---
title: "Exclusive: Dean Windass says James Tarkowski is a great fit for West Ham"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-dean-windass-says-james-tarkowski-is-a-great-fit-for-west-ham-e153/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jake Sanders"
section: "Burnley"
published: "2021-06-23T05:18:04Z"
modified: "2021-06-23T05:18:04Z"
---

# Exclusive: Dean Windass says James Tarkowski is a great fit for West Ham

**Dean Windass thinks that a centre-back will be one of David Moyes’ priorities this summer and said that James Tarkowski would be a solid addition.**

Moyes marked his first full season back at the London Stadium by guiding the Hammers back into Europe following their best top-flight finish for 22 years.

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However, besides Leicester, West Ham boasted the [worst](https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=363&ha=-1) defensive record in the top-eight, and even conceded more goals than Brighton, who finished 16th.

Moyes currently has four centre-backs at his disposal, but Angelo Ogbonna is about to enter the final [12 months](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/angelo-ogbonna/profil/spieler/48002) of his contract, whilst Paraguayan Fabian Balbuena will be [released](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/june/04-june/retained-list-issued-fabian-balbuena-depart) at the end of the month.

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That leaves West Ham with just three central defenders, but according to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/google-sources-tarkowski-very-keen-to-join-west-ham-as-burnley-in-talks-to-land-replacement/), Tarkowski would be keen on returning to London, five years after leaving Brentford for Burnley.

The Hammers were strongly [linked](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/10/west-ham-make-improved-30m-offer-for-burnley-james-tarkowski) with the 28-year-old, who Dyche [described](https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/15259045.sean-dyche-hails-outstanding-james-tarkowski-battle-places-burnley-side-hots/) as “outstanding” after his debut for the Clarets, last summer but were unable to prise him away from Turf Moor. However, with now just [one year](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/profil/spieler/173504) remaining on his Clarets deal, Moyes could yet revisit his interest in the defender.

And Windass exclusively told **[The Transfer Tavern](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/)** that it’s a deal that would suit both club and player:

*“I think now with Moyesy signing his three-year deal, he was a centre-half, so that will be his first port of call. And he would be a good fit, Tarkowski.*

*“He got in the England squad and then came out of it, but it would be a bigger move for him financially.”*