Christian Dailly Hammers News

Pellegrini to decide between Reid and Ogbonna this summer

|
Image for Pellegrini to decide between Reid and Ogbonna this summer

West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini will choose between defenders Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna this summer, according to Claret & Hugh.

The reliable Hammers news source claims that the Chilean has identified the centre of defence as a weak point that needs to be reinforced in the upcoming transfer window.

That will likely see one of Reid or Ogbonna depart in a few months time, with it thought to be 50/50 over which one of them will be offloaded.

The New Zealand international would be the favourite given his serious injury troubles in recent times, but Pellegrini is thought to want to give him a proper chance to impress once he’s back to full fitness.

OPINION

This will be an interesting battle, because it is genuinely 50/50. Yes, Reid has played no football whatsoever under Pellegrini, but he is a long term West Ham star who is highly respected at the club and has shown himself in the past to be an accomplished Premier League centre back. Ogbonna, on the other hand, has featured regularly under the Chilean, but his form has been as inconsistent as it’s possible to be. So just because the Italian has played more under Pellegrini it doesn’t mean he’s necessarily ahead in the Hammers’ pecking order. Pellegrini seemingly wants to give everyone a chance before he makes a decision on them and Reid has yet to have a real opportunity under the former Manchester City chief. So it’s a toss up on which of these players will remain at the London Stadium. It makes sense for the manager to bring another centre back in, and for him to give one of these men the boot as a result. We’ll have to wait and see what happens with this one.

Share this article