Liverpool Set To Hijack Arsenal’s Move For £60k-A-Week Defender

According to reports, Liverpool have been entered the race to sign West Ham defender Winston Reid. The New Zealander has previously been linked to Arsenal. The 26 year old was frequently linked to North London during the last transfer window as the media linked several defenders to the club. He is now reportedly in the radar of Liverpool at least in the corridors of the media.

Liverpool signed two central defenders in the last two summer transfer windows in Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren for a combined fee of £38 million. On the other hand, Arsenal who are in need of central defenders have lost two central defenders in the same period without any replacement, which means that the latter is more in need of a player in that position.

Arsenal should be in a position to beat Liverpool to the signing of Winston Reid as Arsenal currently have just two senior defenders at the club.

The 6ft 3in defender who has been in East London with West Ham for the last four seasons would see his contract expire next summer which means he could be available for a fee of around £3 million in the January transfer window in the coming months. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is thought to be reluctant to lose him to a free transfer and would consider selling him during the winter transfer window.

Arsenal’s need of another body in central defence have been a long drawn out debate for the last two seasons, the departure of Thomas Vermaelen further intensified that debate, and it continued after the club’s failure to sign a defender.

The club’s situation in that department means Arsene Wenger cannot afford to go into the crucial stages of the season without bringing in another defender in the next transfer window as the central defence is the only area of the Arsenal squad that has not been hit by any long term injury, and going by the club’s luck with injuries that could change anytime.

While the issues in defence is still an issue that is staring the club in the face, the position of defensive midfield remains an area that is calling for an upgrade. This position and the concerns in central defence remains the two areas currently crying out for reinforcement from the club.

In any case, there would continue to be noises surrounding Winston Reid as the January transfer window draws nearer because the 26 year old would be free to open negotiations with any club at the time. It remains to be seen whether West Ham would sell him in the coming months.