Are Arsenal right to cool their interest in Winston Reid?

For much of the run-up to the January transfer window, The Gunners kept picking up links to West Ham’s well-regarded centre-back, Winston Reid.

It looked like a good fit at the time. Arsenal are in desperate need of fresh defensive recruits and Reid is a quality option. What’s more, his contractual situation plays in The Gunners’ favour. By the end of the season his current deal with West Ham will have expired. At that stage, he’ll be available as a free transfer.

With that in mind, The Hammers may well be willing to do business this January, to avoid losing him for nothing in a few months time. If Arsenal were genuinely interested, Arsene Wenger could have worked his way towards a genuine bargain.

Unfortunately, things don’t seem to be heading in that direction at the moment. According to The Metro, Arsenal’s interest in Winston Reid has begun to cool off. The source suggests that Arsene Wenger has ‘other defensive targets’ in mind.

I can’t be the only one who’s a little bit disappointed with this news. Whilst I understand that most fans were hoping that Arsene Wenger would chase players like Mats Hummels and Raphael Varane, I think it’s important to be realistic.

The Professor has never spent big on defensive players. I doubt things, will change, particularly in the January transfer window. Arsene Wenger is much more likely to try and find a bargain who’s good enough to make an impact at the club.

Winston Reid would certainly qualify in that regard. He’s got plenty of Premier League experience and he’s been in excellent form thus far this year. He’s tall, physically imposing and he makes good decisions. I could see him going on to be as important a player for Arsenal as Laurent Koscielny has been.

At 26-years-old, Reid is about to enter his peak years as a footballer. Unfortunately, it looks like he wont be enjoying these in an Arsenal shirt.

I’m still holding out hope that Arsene Wenger will change his mind, but I won’t hold my breath. It looks like he’s heading off in his own direction (as usual). Whether he’s making the right decision or not remains to be seen.

What’s your take? Should The Gunners continue to chase Winston Reid?

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