JAMES TOMKINS BID FAILS
WEST HAM have laughed off Newcastle’s bid to sign James Tomkins for £4m.
Toon boss Alan Pardew tabled a third offer for the defender, 22, on Wednesday.
But the Hammers rejected the bid, labelling it nowhere near enough to tempt them to sell.
Ex-Upton Park boss Pardew wants a new centre back after Steven Taylor was ruled out for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury.
Tottenham are also eyeing former England Under-21 defender Tomkins.
But, despite the top- flight interest, he has told Hammers boss Sam Allardyce he is happy to stay and help the Upton Park club secure an instant Premier League return.
the mail
Interest: West Ham have vowed to keep James Tomkins
West Ham snub fresh £4m Newcastle offer for Tomkins
Newcastle have had an improved £4million bid for West Ham defender James Tomkins rejected.
Manager Alan Pardew is eager to bolster his defence with Steven Taylor out for most of the season.
However, West Ham co-owner David Gold insists Tomkins is not for sale. He said: '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 wants to retain Tomkins and bring in at least two players during the transfer window.
Huddersfield's Jordan Rhodes remains a priority and he has enquired about Tottenham's Sebastien Bassong while West Ham have also matched Leicester's offer for Reading winger Jimmy Kebe.
Allardyce said: 'Two quality players would be great.'
talksport
West Ham eyeing move for Fulham striker
West Ham are keeping tabs on Andy Johnson's stuttering contract negotiations at Fulham.
Johnson, 30, is out of contract in the summer and has failed to agree a new deal at Craven Cottage.
Fulham are only willing to offer him a one-year extension, after he suffered an injury ravaged spell at the club, but the forward is looking for at least a two-year deal.
The former Everton striker is a target for QPR and Blackburn and is likely to want to remain in the top-flight.
But Hammers boss Sam Alardyce has already persuaded Kevin Nolan to drop down to the Championship and he could repeat the feat with Johnson, especially with his side joint-top of the table.
Allardyce has been critical of his side's inefficiency in front of goal in recent weeks and he is keen to bolster his frontline ahead of the business end of the season.
Huddersfield have rejected a £4m bid for Jordan Rhodes, who is thought to be Allardyce's number one strike target, but Johnson's situation is being monitored as he could be available for as little as £1.5m.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is considering a sensational move for unsettled Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.
Daily Mail
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is planning a £12m double bid for Blackburn's Chris Samba and winger Junior Hoilett, while defender Vedran Corluka looks like being sold to West Ham.
Daily Mirror
Inter Milan will try to use Wesley Sneijder as a makeweight in a deal for outcast Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez.
Metro
QPR manager Neil Warnock is hopeful of signing Fulham striker Andrew Johnson after Blackburn's bid stalled due to financial constraints.
Daily Mail
Clubs including Tottenham, Liverpool and Sunderland have been alerted to the availability of Wigan's Victor Moses, after the winger's agent revealed that talks over a new contract have stalled.
Metro
Owen Coyle wants Bolton target Tim Ream to take his honeymoon in Horwich. The American centre-half is getting married in his homeland this weekend, just as the Trotters are set to seal a £2.5m deal to buy him from MLS side New York Red Bulls.
Daily Mirror
Wigan are looking to sign Manchester United striker Mame Biram Diouf on loan.
: Daily Mail
Liverpool are also seriously considering a move for Celtic's young Welsh right-back Adam Matthews with sources suggesting the club are contemplating a bid for the 19-year-old.
footybunker
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech expects to finalise terms on a new contract with the Stamford Bridge club soon, which will tie him to the club until 2017.
Evening Standard
The editors of nine Blackburn Rovers supporters' websites, which have more than 12,000 registered members in total, have released a joint statement expressing their disgust at the running of the club by owners Venky's.
Lancashire Telegraph
Football pundit and Strictly Come Dancing star Robbie Savage has become the latest sports person to pose naked for Cosmopolitan magazine.
Daily Mirror
Harry Redknapp has vented his anger at his Spurs players for following the latest Premier League trend of cutting the feet off their socks and instead using short tennis ones to get more of a grip in their boots.
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