James Tomkins to Crystal Palace: Defender completes £10m move from West Ham

Done deal: Tomkins moves to Selhurst Park
GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images
Giuseppe Muro5 July 2016

Crystal Palace today completed the £10million signing of James Tomkins from West Ham as they continued talks with Liverpool over Christian Benteke.

Tomkins finalised his move to Selhurst Park from West Ham and Eagles manager Alan Pardew wants to strengthen his squad further before the new Premier League season.

Palace remain optimistic they can convince Liverpool to sell Benteke and hope to push through a deal for the Belgium forward.

Liverpool reportedly want around £30million for Benteke and negotiations will continue between the clubs.

Benteke cost £32.5m when he joined Liverpool from Aston Villa a year ago and he is on a £120,000-a-week contract.

The 25-year-old, who has scored 10 goals in 42 appearances for Liverpool, would become the highest-paid player at Palace if they can bring him to south London. Yohan Cabaye is currently the top earner on around £100,000 a week.

Tomkins has completed his move to Selhurst Park and the 27-year-old defender became Palace’s third summer signing following Andros Townsend and Steve Mandanda.

Pardew is keen to strengthen his defensive options this summer and Tomkins can play as a centre-back or right-back.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic was willing to let Tomkins, who came through the ranks at Upton Park, leave as he revamps his squad for next season.

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Tomkins made 243 appearances for West Ham after joining as a schoolboy.

Palace have made a real statement of intent in the transfer market this week with chairman Steve Parish prepared to invest heavily. They missed out on Marseille forward Michy Batshuayi, who has joined Chelsea, but Pardew wants to build a squad that can challenge for Europe next season.

Benteke has seen his career stall at Liverpool and he played just 10 minutes during two substitute appearances for Belgium during Euro 2016.

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