Millwall targeting free agent ex-West Ham defender as short-term addition | OneFootball

The former Crystal Palace defender left West Ham in the summer and has been without a club since.

Millwall are looking to bring former West Ham United defender James Tomkins in as a free agent ahead of the final few months of the Championship season.

That's according to Alan Nixon via Patreon, with the Lions looking to add more experience and strength to their defensive line.

Alex Neil's side are embroiled in a 10 team battle for the final two play-off places, and despite being down in 14th, they are just five points off sixth place Blackburn Rovers and seven points off West Bromwich Albion, who are in fifth.

Milwall have won their last four matches in all competitions, and saw themselves past Championship league leaders Leeds United in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday in a 2-0 win at Elland Road.

Millwall show James Tomkins interest

The January transfer window came to an end on Monday, but Neil is not showing any signs of slowing down in terms of bringing in new players.

Tomkins is now at the top of his list, as per Nixon's report. However, the 35-year-old has been without a club all season after leaving Crystal Palace, and he will have to be enticed out of what is seemingly a retirement if he is to move to The Den.

However, despite the interest, the centre-back is yet to make a decision on his future, and it may take some time for Millwall to get their answer.

Tomkins played just four times for the Eagles in the Premier League last season, and he has not played more than 10 games in a season since the 2020/21 campaign.

Local South London journalist Rich Cawley has played down the links between Tomkins and Millwall, but Nixon has further doubled down with his report, stating that contact has been made with the veteran defender ahead of a potential deal.

Millwall signing James Tomkins would be a risk - even as a free agent

Although adding experience to the squad is never a negative, it must be said that the defender's lack of game time over the course of the last few years makes signing him an incredible risk, as it may take weeks or months to get him to full fitness.

Tomkins has made 289 appearances in the Premier League, but with just 18 of these coming in his final three seasons of his career, the majority of his work with the team would more than likely be done on the training pitch.

Millwall have some excellent options at centre-back, with Japhet Tanganga one of the division's very best. Adding to the department is always advisable, but it must be done with the correct player, and Tomkins is not that at this stage.

He will turn 36 in March, and this only adds to the growing reasons as to why the Lions must avoid a move for him.

Tomkins' decision to retire may be reversed, but with the physicality and pace of the Championship, he could struggle and Neil does not need one of his defenders to be targeted by opponents during the run-in with the battle for the play-offs so incredibly tight.