West Ham United have been given a boost in their pursuit of James Tarkowski.
Trevor Sinclair calls David Sullivan’s bluff after talkSPORT interview
That’s after it emerged his whopping £50 million release clause only applies to Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.
West Ham have been chasing Tarkowski since selling Grady Diangana.
Unpopular West Ham co-owner David Sullivan admitted as much in an interview with talkSPORT this week.
West Ham are the only Premier League club not to have signed a new player this window.
Even champions Liverpool have been busy improving their side despite their runaway success last season.
But after signing Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara and Konstantinos Tsimikas and with supreme options in defence, it is highly unlikely Liverpool will be in the market for a new centre-back.
West Ham boss David Moyes on the other hand is desperate for new defenders after the Hammers scraped survival in the penultimate game last term.
The Scot will have been boosted then by a revelation from Telegraph journalist John Percy yesterday.
Journalist makes claim about Tarkowski release clause
Percy, who has been across the Tarkowski story from the start, claims his mega buyout clause only applies if Liverpool, Man United or Man City come knocking.
And the reporter also revealed Burnley may do a deal at the £35million mark having rejected a rival bid from Leicester City.
“Burnley have rejected Leicester’s offer of £30m+ for James Tarkowski,” Percy wrote on Twitter.
“A bid of £35m-40m could be enough, as the £50m release clause only applies to (Manchester) United, Man C and Liverpool.”
Burnley have rejected Leicester’s offer of £30m+ for James Tarkowski. A bid of £35m-40m could be enough, as the £50m release clause only applies to United, Man C and Liverpool https://t.co/6A3qT14h2a
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) September 25, 2020
Deal to be done at around £35m?
The truth is the likes of Liverpool, Man United and Man City won’t be in the running. So that will surely give West Ham hope there is a deal to be done.
But Hammers fans remain sceptical and believe it is inevitable Tarkowski will join Leicester instead.
It would be another name on the long list of targets Moyes has missed out on to rival Prem clubs this summer.
The growing list of disappointments include Eze Eberechi, Matty Cash, Ollie Watkins, Antonee Robinson, Ryan Fraser, Callum Wilson and Cedric Kipre.