MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 10:15:47| >> :120:11358:11358:

James Tarkowski features in Burnley friendly amid West Ham interest

James Tarkowski features in Burnley friendly amid West Ham interest
© Reuters
West Ham are eager to readdress the balance of their squad after Grady Diangana's departure.

West Ham target James Tarkowski played for Burnley in their 4-1 win over Hearts in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

The centre-back had missed the Clarets' midweek clash with Preston due to a "minor knock" but was back for Sean Dyche's side.

Burnley played two matches at their Barnfield training ground with first-team members split up and Tarkowski faced Hearts alongside Ashley Westwood and James Rodriguez while the likes of Dwight McNeil and Chris Wood were up against Mansfield.

He was involved despite attracting interest from Premier League rivals West Ham, who are eager to readdress the balance of their squad.

James Tarkowski, right, in action for Burnley against West Ham last season
James Tarkowski, right, in action for Burnley against West Ham last season (Justin Setterfield/NMC Pool)

Tarkowski, who has played twice for England, is a target for the Hammers, but reports of a £20million bid are wide of the mark, the PA news agency understands.

West Ham are prepared to spend more than that on the centre-back, who has two years left to run on his deal after he agreed a contract extension in January 2018.

David Moyes saw his transfer fund boosted on Friday when winger Grady Diangana left the club to join newly promoted West Brom.

It was a move which did not go down positively with fans or skipper Mark Noble, who said on Twitter: "As captain of this football club I'm gutted, angry and sad that Grady has left, great kid with a great future!!!!!"

Fellow midfielder Jack Wilshere also hinted at his unhappiness following the decision to allow the academy graduate to depart the London Stadium.

He said in a comment on Diangana's Instagram page: "Go and do your thing in a club that respects you. Big player with a big future."

It did not stop Noble and Wilshere being included by Moyes in the West Ham squad to play Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Hammers captain was part of the starting XI for the friendly while ex-Arsenal midfielder Wilshere had to contend with a place on the bench.

Grady Diangana made his debut for West Ham against Macclesfield in the Carabao Cup back in September 2018, but was never a regular at the London Stadium
Grady Diangana made his debut for West Ham against Macclesfield in the Carabao Cup back in September 2018, but was never a regular at the London Stadium (Daniel Hambury/PA)

One-time England Under-21 international Diangana scored eight goals in 30 appearances for West Brom last season to help them secure promotion.

Chances at his boyhood club have been harder to come by, though, and in the statement to confirm his departure, West Ham admitted the decision to sell had been made "reluctantly" due to competition in his position.

Moyes has Felipe Anderson, Michail Antonio, Pablo Fornals, Robert Snodgrass and Andriy Yarmolenko as options in wide areas and the Scottish manager will hope Diangana's transfer can help bring in a new defender.

ID:413082: cacheID:413082:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7531:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Mykola Matviyenko pictured for Shakhtar Donetsk in November 2019
Read Next:
Leeds, Wolves interested in Mykola Matviyenko?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
16Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
17Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth193882134-1317
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!