According to reports in The Mirror, West Ham United are ready to sell defender Winston Reid this summer just nine months after they handed him a new six-year deal, and Leeds United should look to make an ambitious move to bring the 6ft 3in tall New Zealand international to Elland Road.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Mirror says that following Manuel Pellegrini’s appointment as the east London outfit’s new manager on Tuesday, Reid is now facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium and could be one of a number of players shipped out this summer.
The 29-year-old struggled because of injury throughout a difficult 2017/18 campaign for the club, and certainly didn’t look as good as he had done in previous years when he was on the pitch.
Meanwhile, Leeds may well be in the market for a new centre-back his summer – they have already been linked with Kyle Bartley – to provide real competition for Pontus Jansson and captain Liam Cooper – and an audacious move for Reid would do that and please the fans, who have also urged their club to rescue another £35,000-a-week PL centre-back on Twitter.
How did Reid do this season?
The 29-year-old suffered groin, calf and knee injuries – the last of which kept him on the sidelines from the start of March until the end of the campaign – meaning he only made 18 Premier League appearances in total.
The centre-back certainly didn’t look as imposing and as comfortable as he did in the past in the position however, which could suggest he is on the decline when it comes to playing top flight football on a regular basis.
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Would he be a good signing for Leeds?
He certainly would be, as long as he can keep fit.
While Reid may not have been at his best last season, he is still a great centre-back who can be a real powerhouse and would be a step above anyone else in the Championship – shown by the fact he was handed a six-year deal last summer – and he is also a leader having captained the Irons when Mark Noble has been absent.
While a loan would probably be more realistic for the Yorkshire club given the New Zealand international’s potential price tag and wages, there is no doubt that they should make a big effort to bring him to Elland Road if a West Ham exit really is on the cards.
