Carlton Cole implores West Ham to sign James Tarkowski

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West Ham United coach Carlton Cole has backed the club to spend big on James Tarkowski, suggesting the experienced he would be ‘very, very important’.

The Hammers are reported to have failed with an offer of around £30 million for the Burnley centre-half (Sky Sports).

Tarkowski is seen as someone who could shore up the Irons backline, having starred for the Clarets since joining the club in 2016.

The 27-year-old, who has twice been capped by England, has struck up a superb partnership with Ben Mee at Turf Moor, and is viewed by many as a highly dependable centre-half.

Sena Dyche has suggested the club are under no pressure to sell the player on the cheap, and former Hammers striker Cole reckons Tarkowski is worth shelling out for.

He told talkSPORT: “Listen, I think [if he signed] he’s going to bring a lot of experience. That experience is very, very important.

“We have very good defenders but I think it would be good to add to that just to shore up the back a little bit.

“And someone like him coming in would be very good for the club to go in the right direction.”

TBR’s View – Tarkowski would make the world of difference

Simply put, Tarkowski could transform West Ham’s fortunes completely at the back.

It is very rare he has a poor game for Burnley, and his quality is abundantly clear.

It is a bit of a travesty he only has a couple of England caps – perhaps he would get more if he moved clubs.

Armed with the money from the Grady Diangama sale, West Ham surely have to heed Cole’s word and get Tarkowski in.