According to reports, Arsenal are interested in signing Winston Reid when the transfer window reopens as they look to bolster their back four.
Arsene Wenger’s side have made a fine start to the season, heading the Premier League table after bouncing back from an opening day defeat to Aston Villa. Arsene Wenger, though, remains keen to add to his squad during the January transfer window, when he is again expected to have a considerable budget to play with.
Like many coaches around Europe, the Gunners boss has in the past bemoaned the lack of real quality on offer in mid-season, with many top players either still involved in UEFA Champions League action or already cup-tied. This didn’t, however, prevent him from splashing out £15million on Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin in 2008, whilst Nacho Monreal joined from Malaga in an £8million last January.
Now, according to reports in The Metro, Wenger is set to ask West Ham United for Reid when the window reopens. The New Zealand international has established himself as one of the most consistent defenders in the country since arriving at Upton Park from Midtjylland in 2010, having gone on to make 80 appearances in the Premier League thus far.
The 25-year-old is under contract with the Hammers until the summer of 2015, and Sam Allardyce would be hugely reluctant to part with a player who has featured in every minute of their league campaign this season. But it is believed Arsenal have drawn up extensive reports on 6ft 3in star having had him watched on a number of occasions, and they are now prepared to test the water with an offer in the region of £6million.
If Reid does head to the Emirates Stadium in January, it would likely increase speculation over the future of Thomas Vermaelen. The Belgian international has slipped behind Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker in the pecking order this season, and just earlier this month he hinted that he may need to consider his options unless his situation improves.
“I’ll have to think about that when it’s necessary,” he said, whilst on international duty and asked of his club future. “January is still a few months away. Of course, never playing will not be the ideal situation for me to go to the World Cup, that’s for sure. But I’m not panicking. I have spoken to the manager but it will remain private between us.”
