Jack Rosser, from the Evening Standard, thinks that West Ham will be looking at alterative targets after confirming that James Tarkowski is likely to stay at Burnley.
The Hammers pushed hard to sign the Clarets defender last summer, and bid £30m for his services, but missed out on signing him due to Burnley's persistence.
Tarkowski has now entered the final 12 months of his deal at Turf Moor, which means West Ham could sign him for considerably less than that amount.
However, Rosser thinks that the 28-year-old, who's made 159 Premier League appearances since joining from Brentford, will see out the final year of his contract and become a free agent in 2022.
He told The Transfer Tavern:
"Tarkowski is someone he [David Moyes] likes and pushed hard for last year, but I think that ship has sailed.
"He has got a year left on his contract at Burnley, and his plan is to see out that final year at Turf Moor and then move on a free and really open his options, so he's the one in control.
"So, I would be surprised to see Tarkowski make the move down now."
This really is a blow for Moyes. Signing a proven Premier League centre-back on the cheap really would have been shrewd business.
And with European football to come and one less centre-back following Fabian Balbuena's departure, the Hammers boss has his work cut out to improve defence.