As we half expected would happen, West Ham have quickly turned down Newcastle’s latest offer for their center-back, James Tomkins.
James Tomkins – West Ham turn down £4M offer from Magpies
The improved bid from Newcastle for the England U21 International was said to be around £4M, but we think it will take a bigger offer than that for West to allow their 22 year-old defender leave for pastures anew.
After all, West Ham want to be promoted back to the Premier League in May, and hardly want to lose their best players half way through the season.
And if they do they want to be well rewarded for it and also have the opportunity to replace them this month too.
The West Ham co-owner David Gold today said that the lad is just not for sale:
“We want to keep James Tomkins, we really do want to keep him. I think it is fair to say he is not for sale.”
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce also wants to keep the player and wants two new player into the squad also.
We think that as the price for Tomkins gets higher, Newcastle may switch their attention to Montpellier captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, who is a naturalized Frenchman and plays center-back but can also play anywhere along the back four.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa – 22 year-old Montpellier center-back and captain
The French U21 International has played 171 times with four goals for the French side who are currently second top of the French League, just 3 points behind leaders PSG.
And because they are doing so well in the league this season, they may not be willing to sell one of the best players in January either.
We think the 22 year-old would be a good buy at around £5M, and there were some reports yesterday that Newcastle may renew their interest in the player.
The local press is reporting that Alan Pardew has around £8M in cash to spend in January, and his highest priority is to bring in a central defender to replace Steven Taylor, who is probably out for the rest of the season with his Achilles injury.
Comments welcome.
47 comments so far
Dyer8
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:06 AM
Comment #1CB
Ryan Bennett (Peterborough)
Curtis Davies (Birmingham)
James Tomkins (West Ham)
Craig Cathcart (Blackpool)
Jack Hobbs (Hull)
Lewis Dunk (Brighton)
Robby Bobson
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:06 AM
Comment #2Really cant see the attraction to the lad.
Always looks hopeless when I see him. We need a beast I think, doesnt have to be classy, but reckon we could get a beast for the price we are willing to pay for tomkins.
Theres gotta be a semi-decent huge centre half in the french league for a few million we can have as fourth choice?
kilcline
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:13 AM
Comment #3Frenchman would add much needed pace to our backline.
Dunk is an animal and will be quality in the future. The lad at Sheff U is one too watch as well.
Alot of rumours, lets wait and see what we get, just hope the only players out the door are the likes of Smith and Loverboy.
spitfire_
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:13 AM
Comment #4Bring back Bassong… Spurs will let him go for 4 mill tops. Actually that depends of injuries in Tottenham defence but at least we can try.
DoctorZelig
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:16 AM
Comment #5No worry… Looking at our past expensive English national player transfers I must say that paying 4 mil. for a second division player is risky… The French lad is captain of his team and plays in the French first division…. It’s a no brainer!
Considering the amounts paid this year for English nationals… Carroll, Henderson, Jones…. Compared to what they have contributed… It’s insane…
If we want a good English player we need to bring him up through our own youth system. Part from that they are to ridiculously priced…
Take this into perspective: Tioté cost us 3.5 and they reject an offer of 4!
Tino3Barca2
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:19 AM
Comment #6Any defender we sign must have pace. Willo and Colo are slow, Taylor is ok but we need another pacy CB, look how WBA exploited us.
Tino3Barca2
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:21 AM
Comment #7Same with a striker, we need pace up front not a big lump.
Tino3Barca2
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:22 AM
Comment #8I think Pardew knows this, everyone he has signed so far has been very mobile.
JackButler
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:27 AM
Comment #9Mbiwa seems a better option as he will be able to cover the whole back four positions
t00ntime
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:38 AM
Comment #10liked the way how pardew said “when we play his (ben arfa) way we do quite well”
we played ben arfas way yesterday xD thats how we shud play hope pardew keeps on playing like that 😉
also who ever on the last post said drop demba and have benny and shola upfront… well he needs his head checked xD
for me we shud have 2 strikers upfront Ba and ??
benny shud play just behind them or on the wing… unless ben arfa becomes a striker he wont get many games cause newcastle needs to play with atleast 2 strikers
4-3-3 seems the best
———————–krul
simpson–williamson–colo–santon
———————————————-
———————-tiote——————
————–cabaye—guthrie (or some new guy)
———————————————-
—ben arfa——-Ba———-jonas—-
Gleese
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:47 AM
Comment #11I agree jack, also i know tomkins is still young and may well be one for the future but from what ive seen of him he hasnt been that brilliant and you could question whether he could make the step up to the prem. Ive only seen Mbiwa play a handful of times and he has always looked decent, plus hes relatively pacy and can comfortably manage against all the top french teams atm. I found a vid on youtube of one of the games i saw him play against lille last season..and i know you cant judge whether a player from youtube but it shows the ‘type’ of defender he is. would deffo rather him than tomkins.
gunnarnufc
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:51 AM
Comment #12Mbiwa is a trulygreat player. Would be a huge catch for us.
JackButler
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:55 AM
Comment #13Gleese – the fact that we don’t have the biggest squad means we need versatility in any signing we make, would love Jan Vertonghen from Ajax but can’t see Ashley footing the bill for him so to a point we are restricted who we can go for and the fact that Mbiwa is versatile makes him about the best option we have
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 12:57 AM
Comment #14Atleast atm our defence is doing well so thaz no desperate rush to say we desperately need him for say QPR game but we defo need a cb this month would love a striker aswell but doesnt look likely
JackButler
Jan 6, 2012 at 1:02 AM
Comment #15http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACljjmYqdqQ
Reads the game very well
Gleese
Jan 6, 2012 at 1:03 AM
Comment #16Exactly jack, and considering tomkins would appear to be a similar price, mbiwa is definitely the one worth getting.
Vertonghen would be immense but yeah i think he may be slightly out of the price range unfortunately.
I think it would be worth us taking a look at onuoha as well if hes selling for 2.5m tbh…versatile and beasty!
Gleese
Jan 6, 2012 at 1:05 AM
Comment #17^^ thats the game i saw him play in…he looks proper decent
Gleese
Jan 6, 2012 at 1:08 AM
Comment #18@GT89 – yeh i dont think we need to rush, and our defence is looking pretty alright atm. With saylor out though if either CB gets injured or suspended i fear we may struggle though.
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 1:12 AM
Comment #19Yeah we defo need to buy a cb this month but we dont desperately need one for nxt week would be nice if we got 1 tmorro though lol, oh and cabaye and raylor are doubtful for sat
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 1:19 AM
Comment #20Ba…..Huh… What did he sign for? Absalutly nothing.. Sammy Ameobi is a legend haha
dazza
Jan 6, 2012 at 1:20 AM
Comment #21Spend the whole 8M on Mapou, this guy looks immense!
There is no value in England, except for maybe the BSL 🙂
and Pardue has already shown his appreciation for pace so Mapou fits the bill for me.
Niff in the USA
Jan 6, 2012 at 1:29 AM
Comment #22My team for Sat 🙂
Krul
Simmo Willo Kadar Santon
Obertan Medhi Guthrie Guti
HBA
Best
Blackburn are fighting for survival not the cup. But that’s just a wild team haha
davis_toons
Jan 6, 2012 at 1:51 AM
Comment #23Looks like a promising player in the video and Lille is no easy team.
American Toon 13
Jan 6, 2012 at 1:59 AM
Comment #24I know its only the 5th, but even the most outlandish rumors don’t link Tiote to any clubs. I’ve only read one report from a dubious site about Colo going to Liverpool but I’ve only seen it in one place. Last year rumors swirled about Carroll from the first day of the window, so maybe we won’t sell after all.
deyansabourian
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:22 AM
Comment #25full player ratings and analysis of the man u game at
http://oursoccerblog.blogspot.com/
radja in Indonesia
Jan 6, 2012 at 6:10 AM
Comment #26hi all.. I’m the big fans from Indonesia.
I think we should forget him and go for Mbiwa because he is a good player, obviously he is the captain of his team and as a captain he must have something better than other player of his team
Rozzy
Jan 6, 2012 at 6:15 AM
Comment #27Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is the ideal target but psg are looking to with there millions which over powers us.
Steve_48
Jan 6, 2012 at 6:27 AM
Comment #28http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4042044/Alan-Smith-pleads-with-Newcastle-boss-Alan-Pardew-Play-me.html
Noooooooooooooooooooooooo
There’s a reason you’re no longer playing Alan – you’re not good enough
Ponderous Pardew
Jan 6, 2012 at 6:38 AM
Comment #29Is Smith that out of touch with reality?
Troleibusiukas_LTU
Jan 6, 2012 at 6:50 AM
Comment #30Arfa will become a more like striker, he already said, that he is quit fancy number 9 shirt, he knows the meaning of it,and thinks he can cope with expectations. Also he said he wants to entertain fans much more than get paid a lot or be famous, and said he could be at Newcastle for his career.
radja in Indonesia
Jan 6, 2012 at 6:54 AM
Comment #31truly, give Smith one chance to play, who knows………..
Dannyo
Jan 6, 2012 at 7:02 AM
Comment #32Almost feel sorry for Smith reading those quotes. He seems ridicoulusy deluded.
If you were as good as good ol Giggs mate, u would be playing.
In the words of Alan Pardew:
“I think you understand football enough to know why u’re not playing.”
No Alan, he doesn’t, sadly.
Steve_48
Jan 6, 2012 at 7:05 AM
Comment #33PP & Dannyo – the question you also have to ask is had he played:
1. Where would we be in the League?
2. Number fo yellow / red cards received?
3. The negative press from his “tackling”
Sadly, no longer good enough amongst the current crop, thanks Alan, but no thanks – accept reality and retire as hard a decision as it may well be.
cyprus
Jan 6, 2012 at 7:56 AM
Comment #34All this transfer talk is vaguely interesting, so long as we don’t lose anybody. Now what to do with the players we have? Ed, I’d like to share your confidence in the previous article regarding HBA and your ‘no problem’ assessment. I’m not sure why HBA decided to come to us, but as you know he was touted as the French Messi just a few years ago. For me, if there’s any truth in that, (and remember AP himself said he’s special) we must be very careful in how we develop this gold nugget. I don’t know what AP is thinking, but he must put aside any personal stubbornness and play HBA. e.g. he could’ve easily played him instead of Raylor.
redondo77
Jan 6, 2012 at 7:59 AM
Comment #35Forget all of them.
We should get this player : Dede of Vasco da Gama
this is him vs Neymar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPpWCxBrqG8&feature=related
or Digão of Fluminense
redondo77
Jan 6, 2012 at 8:01 AM
Comment #36imagine if our back four is :
Simo—–Dede—-Colo——-Santon
can be top 4 in the league.
cyprus
Jan 6, 2012 at 8:04 AM
Comment #37Just read the Alan Smith article. You have to feel for the man. A rising superstar at Leeds, bought and ruined by Fergie (as he was played out of position), horrific injury and loss of confidence. The merciful thing, AP, would be to let him go, at least on loan, let him play some football. And, AS, you must convince whoever is your new manager that you are (were?) a decent centre forward who can (could?) terrorise defenders… NOT a midfielder, dude
GeordieoftheSouth
Jan 6, 2012 at 8:43 AM
Comment #38As being from down South, I have many West Ham fans who really rate Tomkins and do not want him to leave.
Last season he was shocking against us but it seems the Champioship has turned him into a class player…similar to Collocini. I think it will take 7-8 mill to get him as West Ham really don’t want to sell, I can’t see Ashley paying that kind of money.
soundoid
Jan 6, 2012 at 8:48 AM
Comment #39I must say that in the first half of our championship tour Smith was our rock. Half way through less so which was a shame, you could see he was frustrated he even punched Willo in a game i think at watford. It’s hard to say this but his premier league days are behind him. I have so much respect for this lad and i think AP dose too. Take the coaching role Alan and help out our academy Players.
Dannyo
Jan 6, 2012 at 9:00 AM
Comment #40Lee Ryder @lee_ryder
I was told again this morning that #whufc defender James Tomkins is going nowhere #nufc