Transfer latest

It's a welcome return to our irregular transfer updates as the January window looms on the horizon...

Both the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail run this morning with a story claiming that West Ham have rejected a £2.5million bid for James Tomkins from Alan Pardew's Newcastle United. By extraordinary coincidence, the central defender is also currently chasing a new improved contract - not that we're suggesting the two could possibly be related in any way.

Queens Park Rangers, who had a similar bid rejected last month and are managed by the delightful Neil Warnock, are also said to be 'monitoring the situation'.

Mark Noble is another linked with a move away from the Boleyn Ground within the last 24 hours, with Fulham being mooted as a potential destination by Talksport. Hopefully that little exclusive didn't come from Ian 'Moose' Abrahams, whose 'ITK' record during the last transfer window was... less tham impressive.

Moving to possible arrivals, the Sun are this morning linking Sam Allardyce with a move for Crystal Palace's teenage sensation Wilfred Zaha, who is said to be valued around the £5million mark by his club. The 19-year-old can operate on either wing and would therefore be a perfect fit for Big Sam's favoured 451/433 formation.

Zaha has scored five goals for Palace this season from 26 appearances.

Rio Ferdinand, who is currently on the fringes at Manchester United is a rather spurious link but one or two outlets insist that he is considering a return to London. West Ham are one destinantion touted - although we suspect former Chairman Terry Brown's claim that Ferdinand may return to West Ham one day has a good couple of years in it yet.

Meanwhile Ian Hendon put another couple of triallists to the test yesterday as his development squad ran out 2-0 winners over Crawley Town at Little Heath. The two triallists who featured are thought to be young Swedish talents Emilio Rossi and Nikola Ladan, who have also been closely watched by Sunderland and Everton.

Previously reported here on KUMB.com was a possible move for Japanese international Ryoichi Maeda, which you may read about here.