This could be a case of serendipity. Or not. Make up your own mind.
But Arsenal surely need to sign a defensive player in the winter window in order to get more bodies in the squad. Through the autumn they suffered badly as players like Debuchy, Koscielny and Mertesacker were crocked, leaving the squad painfully short of defenders.
Arsenal will probably add a player or two in January to avoid the same fate again. And, coincidentally, one of their reported targets has been told that he has no future at his club.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has said of Winston Reid:
‘There is no future for Winston Reid at West Ham at the moment. His contract finishes on June 30. He hasn’t said he’s going to sign or that he’s not going to sign.
Reid clearly feels he deserves more cash than he is being offered at West Ham and looks certain to move on this January. With his contract up at the end of the season you would assume that canny Sam will try to make some cash out of the departure at least.
At 26 the New Zealander has played 18 times for his country and also impressed in his time in London. He’s played 112 league games for the club since he signed in 2010. He is a big, strong and mobile lad who could fit in well at Arsenal. But it is a bit of a gamble on the part of Arsene Wenger and some Arsenal fans would be concerned that the club have once more bought a player who isn’t quite top notch.
While Reid is a wonderful physical specimen he is yet to prove that he has the technique for a club like Arsenal. But there is only one way to find out and he will be looking for a big move this winter.