Winston Reid’s West Ham future is in major doubt following the signing of Issa Diop from Toulouse, according to a club insider.
Ex-WHU Employee, who is renowned for breaking Hammers stories before the mainstream media, revealed on the West Ham Way podcast broadcast on Phoenix FM on Tuesday night (19:53) that the New Zealand international is “vulnerable” as Manuel Pellegrini overhauls the squad.
The Hammers are keen to follow up the £23million capture of Diop by signing Swansea City’s Alfie Mawson to add to current defensive pair Angelo Ogbonna and Declan Rice.
“There are serious question marks about Reid,” Ex-WHU Employee told the podcast. “If we sign Mawson, as we intend to do, we have four centre-backs to choose from – Mawson, Diop, Ogbonna and Rice.
“Reid’s future is in doubt. He’s on a big wage after signing a contract recently, which makes him harder to shift. He’s injury prone and the club have had concern about his back for a long time. When your back starts to go, it affects all other parts of your body.
“He’s vulnerable. If a decent bid comes in for him, I think we will accept it.”
OPINION
Reid is a popular figure with West Ham fans after proving his commitment and value over the last eight years, when he has been a nailed on first teamer. He can point at a contract that has three more years to run and which stats site Spotrac report is worth £70,000-a-week. That could make him hard to shift and might require some smart negotiating from new director of football Mario Husillos. Pellegrini is said to be adamant that he wants a second new centre-back to follow the arrival of Diop after the defensive horrors of last season, when the club had the equal-worst back line in the Premier League. That means the writing is on the wall for Reid, who turns 30 in two weeks and is starting to feel the effects of a decade of top-level football. Mawson and Diop will surely be vying with Ogbonna for the mantle of first choice centre-back, with rising star Rice able to slot in when needed as well as playing in defensive midfield. Reid is skating on thin ice.
