David Moyes target James Tarkowski insists he still wants out but do West Ham even need him with duo emerging?

Add as preferred source on Google

David Moyes’s top centre-back target James Tarkowski insists he will leave Burnley but do West Ham United even need him?

Are you listening GSB? Ex star makes brilliant point about Noble’s West Ham future

Before the transfer window closed Moyes had made signing a centre-back his top priority.

It was easy to see why. Winston Reid had departed and Fabian Balbuena was not rated by the Scot.

But a formation switch to a back three is not only getting the best out of the Paraguayan but also Aaron Cresswell as a left-sided centre half.

Formation change eases Moyes defensive woes

Main man Angelo Ogbonna looks just as comfortable and if and when Issa Diop comes back in no doubt he will too with the extra cover.

When West Ham’s moves for Tarkowski and a host of other defenders failed, Moyes elected to sign Craig Dawson on loan as cover.

At the weekend Tarkowski made it abundantly clear he fully intends to leave Burnley after being denied a big money move once again (Telegraph).

That has sparked inevitable speculation that West Ham will revisit their interest in the Burnley and England centre-back.

But do West Ham even need him?

Do West Ham even need Tarkowski with duo emerging?

The Hammers secured what could be one of their best signings for some time when they tied young star Jamal Baptiste down to his first professional contract last week (whufc.com).

The highly-rated England age group star has just turned 17 but has impressed Moyes sufficiently to earn a start for West Ham in pre-season and is tipped to captain the Under 23s this season.

Then there is Aji Alese, who turns 20 in January. With less hype but even further along the production line, Alese was excellent too when featuring in pre-season and the Carabao Cup win over Hull.

Both Alese and Baptiste are tipped to be future stars for the first team. Indeed they could well be West Ham’s long-term centre-back pairing.

So do the Hammers really need to go out and sign someone like Tarkowski?

After all it would only add another obstacle in the path of Alese and Baptiste.

West Ham could be down to just two recognised centre-backs this summer

There is the argument that Balbuena’s contract is up next summer and he may not be kept on.

But his excellent form may change Moyes’s mind.

And of course Dawson’s move is only a loan.

Without those two, West Ham would be left with just Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna if they wanted to play a back four, two short of the four centre-backs Moyes likes to have in his squad.

Yes Declan Rice can drop back in an emergency. But it is pointless including him as an option because he is so crucial in central midfield for West Ham.

Alese will surely be knocking on the first team door next season with Baptiste not too far behind him given his talent.

So do West Ham really need to go out and spend millions on a new centre half when the answers could be right under their noses in the club’s famous academy?

West Ham insiders make big claim about Moyes plans for Haller at Sheffield United