West Ham make emphatic decision on future of 29-year-old after interest from Everton – reports

Mon 31 July 2017 11:53, UK

By Danny Wright

West Ham have emphatically decided that Winston Reid will not be leaving the London Stadium this summer, according to a report.

The London Evening Standard claims that the Hammers will look to stave off any interest in the 29-year-old after the Daily Mail claimed that their Premier League rivals Everton were plotting a bid for the defender.

It was understood that Ronald Koeman was eager to snap up Reid as cover for the injured Ramio Funes Mori and was plotting a £9million bid for the New Zealand international.

The Mail also reported that West Ham were willing to listen to offers for Reid, but this latest development asserts that simply isn’t the case, and Slaven Bilic is keen on keeping hold of his no-nonsense enforcer.

Reid has been a key feature in the Irons set-up ever since he joined the club from Danish side Midtjylland in 2010.

Although he has suffered with injury problems in the past he is arguably the best defender in Bilic’s squad and appeared 36 times across all competitions last season, scoring two goals in the process.

Football Insider Verdict

West Ham have took some strides forward this summer in the purchases of Javier Hernandez, Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart’s loan deal. One thing Bilic cannot do is let his squad get any weaker going into the new Premier League season, and letting go of Reid would definitely have done that. The New Zealand stopper would also strengthen Everton, which is probably a team that the Hammers need to try and aspire to be like in the near future. James Collins and Jose Fonte aren’t the most reliable of centre-backs while Angelo Ogbonna has struggled with injuries. That means that Reid is probably one of the most important players in Bilic’s squad.