Arsenal are reportedly readying a January bid for West Ham United defender Winston Reid, according to reports in the Daily Mail.
The New Zealand international is out of contract at the end of the season, which means he can sign a pre-contract with clubs outside England in January.
The report states that the North London club are planning a cut-price £4 million January move for West Ham defender. Arsenal have identified the centre half as their prime target and believe the Hammers can be persuaded to sell next month rather than lose Reid for nothing in the summer.
It further states that the Emirates club have been continuously watching the defender since November and have finally decided to make the move. West Ham are trying to get the defender to sign on the dotted line, but Reid wants more than £60,000 per week, in addition to a £1 million signing-on fee which the club are reluctant to pay.
The Gunners are also keeping a keen eye on Ipswich Town defender Tyrone Mings but his £10 million asking price is considered too high, while Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk is also on the radar.
Reid majorly plays on the left of the center back pairing but can also ply his trade at wing back. He is very effective in the air and is always ready to throw his body in to the way of the ball when required. He has been the captain of his national side and would bring authority and organisational qualities to Arsenal’s back line.
The Gunners are in desperate need of a new defender in January, as they only have two recognised center backs in the form of Mertesacker and Koscielny, but with the Frenchman suffering from major injury concerns all through the season, the squad has particularly looked thin at the back. Wenger was forced to play Debuchy, Chambers and Monreal in that position which proved too costly in some games.
We need a player who can slot straight into the first team and Reid would perfect fit that role, as he won’t need any time to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League after spending four years at West Ham. He will be a very useful squad player for Arsenal and can either partner Mertesacker or Koscielny at the back without compromising on the quality.
He will be available for a mere £4 million which is very less considering the inflated prices these days. He seems ready to step up after spending almost four years with the Hammers.
Is Winston Reid the defender we need?
