Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has backed his former club to make a move for West Ham target James Tarkowski in the January transfer window.

The Hammers had two bids turned down for the Burnley defender with Sean Dyche’s side reportedly holding out for around £50m, and Kirkland says the Reds should consider a bid for the England international as a possible replacement for Virgil van Dijk:

“Obviously there was a lot of talk about Tarkowski at Burnley. I like him, I think he’s decent. You can’t go, ‘well will he do what Van Dijk does?’ Because that’s impossible, nobody does that.”

West Ham did move on to other targets before the transfer window closed, with the likes of Marseille’s Duje Caleta Car and Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic also having been looked at.

However, the Irons decided to settle on snapping up Watford defender Craig Dawson on loan instead in order to strengthen manager David Moyes’ options at the back.

The 30-year-old has yet to play for West Ham since arriving from the Hornets last month, having not been included in the matchday squad for the last four league fixtures.