West Ham could revisit a move for Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski this summer, according to Daily Star journalist Paul Brown.

The Hammers have a longstanding interest in the £19.8m-rated defender and could sign him on a free transfer when the window reopens for business.

What's the latest news involving Tarkowski?

Despite never getting close to bringing him to the London Stadium, David Moyes has been keen on the England international, described as 'exceptional' by former Brentford boss Mark Warburton.

West Ham's interest dates back to the summer of 2020 when they had just avoided relegation and were keen on strengthening their backline, only to see three bids knocked back by the Clarets.

But the Hammers also tried their luck in January when Angelo Ogbonna had been all-but ruled out for the rest of the season and they had just three fit centre-backs when still fighting on three fronts.

However, with Burnley battling against relegation, they decided against selling one of their most important players, who's played 191 times for them in the Premier League and has been crucial in their recent climb away from the bottom three.

But this could be Tarkowski's seventh and final season at Turf Moor, with his contract expiring in June, while there's been no indications that the ex-Brentford defender will commit his future to Burnley.

Therefore, Brown expects West Ham to be in the race for his signature this summer.

What did Brown say about Tarkowski?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "What happens at the bottom could be quite interesting because I wouldn't be surprised if West Ham go back in for Tarkowski, because he's more of a left-sided centre-back than Michael Keane."

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Why do West Ham need Tarkowski?

West Ham currently have four central defenders on their books in Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson and Issa Diop.

However, Ogbonna will turn 34 before the start of next season and is set to become a free agent this summer, while Diop has been linked away from the London Stadium following his underwhelming form when he has played.

Meanwhile, none of those are naturally left-footed, which could allow Tarkowski to slot into the left-sided centre-back position and form a partnership alongside Zouma, with Dawson as third-choice.

In Tarkowski, West Ham would be getting an extremely reliable defender both in terms of quality on the pitch and availability, with the 29-year-old missing just seven top-flight games across the last four years.