According to reports in The Mirror, new West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is considering selling Winston Reid just nine months after the east London outfit handed him a new six-year deal, reported to be worth £70,000-a-week.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the 64-year-old was appointed as David Moyes’ successor on Tuesday in what must be viewed as a huge coup for the Irons, and the Chilean looks set to get to work quickly on his squad with The Mirror suggesting he could offload a number of players, including Reid.
The Mirror says the 29-year-old faces an uncertain future at the London Stadium, which is of little surprise given the injury issues he has suffered with over the course of the past few seasons, that have clearly affected his performances on the pitch.
While the New Zealand international was a clear favourite under former manager Slaven Bilic and was handed a new long-term contract by David Sullivan, who can go from zero to hero by delivering these three signings for Pellegrini, he may have a difficult task ahead of him to prove to his new boss that he should be a regular starter for the Hammers next term.
How did Reid do this season?
The centre-back was hampered by groin, calf and knee injuries throughout the campaign – the latter of which kept him on the sidelines from the start of March through until their final game against Everton at the London Stadium earlier this month.
The 29-year-old did make 18 Premier League appearances in total, but even during that time he played his part in a defence that ended the season with the joint-worst record in the division with 68 goals conceded in their 38 top flight matches.
Reid certainly didn’t look as mobile and as imposing as he had done in previous years, which perhaps is a sign that injuries are now hampering his displays.
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Would Pellegrini be right to sell him?
He probably would be, in all honesty.
Reid turns 30 in July and while he has had some great years playing for West Ham – like James Collins – perhaps it is time to move on to a new era under Pellegrini with fresh faces in the backline.
The Chilean boss should be looking to add some slightly young players with potential to compete with the likes of Declan Rice and Angelo Ogbonna for a spot at the heart of the defence next term, and if he does do that then Reid will likely be surplus to requirements.