Sam Allardyce admits Winston Reid is unlikely to remain at West Ham United, as the defender enters the final six months of his contract.
The New Zealand international has been at Upton Park since the summer of 2010, and he has gone on to make over 100 appearances as he establishes himself as a key member of the Hammers back four. However, he is out of contract at the end of the season, and although Allardyce would love the 26-year-old to sign a fresh deal, he admits this is now unlikely.
“His contract finishes on 30 June,” he said. “He hasn’t said he is going to sign, and he hasn’t said he isn’t, but you would err on the side that he isn’t by the feel and the look of it at this moment in time, by the knowhow in the football world I have been talking to about the situation. So I would say it is highly unlikely that Winston is going to sign for us based on what people are saying to me.”
Despite this, Allardyce has always maintained that Reid will see out the season at West Ham unless a huge bid – he quoted £20million last month – arrived. But these latest comments could prompt interested parties to try their luck this month, knowing that the Hammers could be tempted to cash in before the current window closes rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.
Arsenal are the club who have most been linked with the former Midtjylland defender, with recent reports suggesting Arsene Wenger is willing to pay £4million for his signature. Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest, whilst The Guardian have mentioned Manchester United as potential suitors as Louis van Gaal looks to bolster his rearguard options.
Allardyce, meanwhile, may have already signed a replacement for Reid. It was confirmed over the weekend that the West Ham manager has sealed the transfer of Canada international Doneil Henry, who has signed a long-term contract with the club after an undisclosed fee was agreed with Apollon Limassol. And the youngster insists he is equipped for the Premier League.
“I’m 21 and I want to get a role with the team, keep my head down and take my opportunity when I can,” the former FC Toronto man, who has already won 13 caps for his country, told the official club website. “I love a tackle and I just want to defend hard. I take pride in my clean sheets with the back line and with the ‘keeper, so if we can just do that, it’s job completed.”
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