Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:11 pm
Prem sides to battle over Championship defender
BY NIKHIL VEKARIA
DEC 9, 2015
Premier League sides West Ham United and Leicester City will battle for Burnley right back Tendayi Darikwa in January, according to Shoot.
West Ham currently sit seventh in the Premier League after their 0-0 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday and have enjoyed a wonderful start to the season.
According to the report, they have been scouting Darikwa since the start of the season and have continued to do so throughout the campaign so far.
The highly rated 23 year old only arrived at Turf Moor this summer from League One Chesterfield and has played in all 19 league games for Sean Dyche’s promotion hopefuls.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is said to be keen to sign a new right back in the New Year, as The Hammers only player to have played that position this season is an Arsenal loanee, Carl Jenkinson.
However, they will apparently face competition for his signature from Premier League table-toppers Leicester City, who have made a shock start to the campaign and lead the way after 15 games.
They are also understood to be interested in taking the highly rated Demarai Gray from Championship side Birmingham City, although it’s understood they will face competition for his signature from Bournemouth.
However, Burnley are unlikely to let Darikwa leave easily and especially not on the cheap, as he only signed a three year deal at the club this summer.
They also let their previous first choice right back Kieran Trippier make the move to Tottenham Hotspur, so they are unlikely to want to lose another player in that position.
Burnley have started their campaign strongly since being relegated from the Premier League last season and although they lost 2-0 at home to Lancashire rivals Preston on Saturday, they currently occupy 5th place in The Sky Bet Championship.