---
title: "Crystal Palace: Fans react as James Tomkins is linked to West Brom"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-fans-react-as-james-tomkins-is-linked-to-west-brom/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Crystal Palace"
published: "2020-12-18T12:40:15Z"
modified: "2020-12-18T12:40:15Z"
---

# Crystal Palace: Fans react as James Tomkins is linked to West Brom

**Many Crystal Palace fans are reacting to the news that James Tomkins is a transfer target for new West Bromwich Albion manager Sam Allardyce.**

According to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/allardyce-sets-sights-on-making-palace-star-first-west-brom-signing/), and tweeted out by [@cpfc\_xtra](https://twitter.com/cpfc_xtra/status/1339550836863741952?s=20), Allardyce, who [managed the South London side in the past](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sam-allardyce/profil/trainer/445), wants to make Palace defender Tomkins his first signing at the Baggies.

Tomkins has had a very good career in south London, featuring over 100 times and scoring eight goals along the way, ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tomkins/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/61592/plus/0?saison=&verein=873&liga=&wettbewerb=GB1&pos=&trainer_id=)). In these games, 99 have come in the Premier League, with [23](https://www.premierleague.com/players/3517/James-Tomkins/stats?co=1&se=54) clean sheets and [eight](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tomkins/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/61592/plus/0?saison=&verein=873&liga=&wettbewerb=GB1&pos=&trainer_id=) goals in top-flight action for the Eagles.

His injuries have been an issue however, with him suffering a fair few during his Palace career, including a hamstring injury he suffered in [February](https://www.football.london/crystal-palace-fc/news/hodgson-delivers-tomkins-injury-update-17713968). Hodgson praised the defender in the past as he [said](https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1114136751637979137?s=20): “He’s been excellent. He was fantastic the other night in a tough game for us.”

It would be risky to sell the defender, despite him not starting currently. The current set of defenders at the club all have had [various injury struggles](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/crystal-palace/startseite/verein/873) so strength in depth in that position is key. Also to sell the player to a fellow Premier League side could always backfire as it might help that side more than Palace would want it to.

### Here is how Palace fans reacted to the news on Tomkins:

> Only sell for a good price
>
> — Ben Hopkins (@benh199225) [December 17, 2020](https://twitter.com/benh199225/status/1339552239732572161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Good luck with that…
>
> — PalaceAsh (@PalaceScout) [December 17, 2020](https://twitter.com/PalaceScout/status/1339551031009697792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Nah you’re alright
>
> — Nathan (@NathernB) [December 17, 2020](https://twitter.com/NathernB/status/1339557127631892480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> No thanks.
>
> — dylan chant (@DylanChant) [December 17, 2020](https://twitter.com/DylanChant/status/1339567841457147914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> No way he’s ours
>
> — Joe🦅 (@joe\_cpfc\_01) [December 17, 2020](https://twitter.com/joe_cpfc_01/status/1339555748154621954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> No please no
>
> — aman (@amancpfc) [December 17, 2020](https://twitter.com/amancpfc/status/1339553168670289927?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***In other Palace news, have a read of a bizarre statistic about the club which fans aren’t happy with [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-news/crystal-palace-fans-react-to-crazy-stat-about-the-club-since-hodgson-took-over/)!***