James Tomkins joined Crystal Palace from West Ham United in the summer transfer window.
Former Leicester City and Derby County midfielder Robbie Savage suggested on the BT Sport Score show on BT Sport 1 on Saturday afternoon (broadcast from 2:30pm, October 1, 2016) that West Ham United should not have parted company with James Tomkins in the summer.
Tomkins left West Ham to join Premier League rivals Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window.
According to BBC Sport, Palace had to pay the Hammers a transfer fee of £10 million in order to secure the services of the 27-year-old defender.
Former Wales international midfielder Savage believes that the London club should have kept hold of Tomkins, who can play as a centre-back or as a right-back.
“They are struggling defensively, Tomkins has gone to Crystal Palace, he is a decent player,” said Savage on the BT Sport Score show on BT Sport 1 on Saturday afternoon (broadcast from 2:30pm, October 1, 2016). “Why did they let him go? I think recruitment has been poor from West Ham.”
Former West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp made a similar suggestion and said on the same show: “He is a local boy as well, Tomkins. West Ham boy, loves the club, grew up, had been there since he was probably 10 years of age.”
West Ham are struggling at the moment and are currently third from bottom in the Premier League table.
Slaven Bilic’s side, who were expected to fight for a top-six finish in the table this season, have been disappointing defensively.
The Hammers have been unlucky with injuries, but that should not eclipse the fact that the players who are fit are not playing well.
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