Tomkins: no transfer request

Reports that James Tomkins has handed in a transfer request are wide of the mark, KUMB.com has learned.

The Daily Star claimed this morning that JOHN Tomkins (since amended to James) had asked to leave in the wake of interest from Newcastle, who are managed by former Hammers boss Alan Pardew.

"Newcastle's hopes of landing the defender received a huge boost yesterday when he told West Ham he wants to quit," read the story.

However it was revealed this morning via the KUMB.com forums that the Star's story was complete nonsense and that the young central defender had made no such request.

* Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew made no reference to a purported £4million bid for Tomkins in a press conference this morning.