David Sullivan has hinted West Ham United may be willing to pay ‘a bit more but not double’ for Burnley defender James Tarkowski.
Bumbling Brady left with egg on her face after night of high drama at West Ham
The unpopular West Ham co-owner broke his long media silence with a bizarre – and all too familiar – public airing of the club’s business on talkSPORT.
In the 10-minute interview Sullivan was at pains to explain West Ham’s desperate financial situation.
Sullivan lets slip £40m transfer budget
But he also let slip the club has a £40 million budget which they are hoping to use to sign two players.
The Hammers have been heavily linked with a move for Burnley star Tarkowski (Claret & Hugh, Evening Standard).
Reports have suggested West Ham are considering one last try for the England international.
Sullivan told talkSPORT there are a number of bids in for players from outside the UK.
Many took that as confirmation the club’s interest in Tarkowski was dead.
‘We’ll go a little bit more… but not double’ says Sullivan
Sullivan confirmed the club had to make a decision on a defender from a rival Premier League club who he would not name.
Sullivan said it made no sense for West Ham to spend their entire £40m budget on one player.
But later in the interview – which you can listen to in full here – he hinted West Ham may be willing to go a bit higher than what they value Tarkowski. But he insisted West Ham would not pay the £40m widely regarded to be the fee Burnley want.
“Even they (Manchester City’s owners) have got some sense now when it comes to value and they won’t overpay on what they value a player,” Sullivan told talkSPORT.
“And we’ll go a little bit more (over what we value the player) but you can’t pay double what you value a player at, you know.
“Because we haven’t got the money, the club will go bankrupt and these are difficult times and we have to be sensible.”
Moyes expected signings this week
David Moyes told the press last Friday he expected to have new signings this week (whufc.com).
Whether Tarkowski is one of them or not remains to be seen.
Indeed whether West Ham sign anyone of note before the transfer window slams shut a week on Monday seems very much in the balance.