Winston Reid is set to miss most of West Ham United’s pre-season as doubts remain over his future at the club.
Reid is a man who will forever hold a place in the hearts of West Ham fans.
A fine defender in his pomp. His name is written into West Ham folklore thanks to famous goals against Millwall and that winner in the thrilling 3-2 victory over Manchester United on Upton Park’s unforgettable farewell.
The wisdom of handing Reid a six-year deal back August 2017 has to be called into question. Especially for a player that had already proved injury prone.
Reid still has two years to run on £70k per week West Ham deal
Remarkably that deal still has two years left to run and West Ham are committed to another £8million in wages for £70,000-per-week Reid between now and then (SPOTRAC).
It is more than three years since Reid’s last competitive game for West Ham.
His Hammers career effectively ended when he suffered a serious knee and back injury against Swansea that fateful day.
Reid spent last season on loan at Brentford. And West Ham insider ExWHUemployee claimed he could join the Bees permanently this summer having helped them secure promotion to the Premier League.
Olympics call-up will see Reid miss most of West Ham’s pre-season as future remains unclear
That would appear unlikely given the big wages Reid is on unless West Ham released him on a free transfer.
Now it has emerged Reid – who turns 33 on Saturday (July 3rd) will miss most of West Ham’s pre-season after being called up to New Zealand’s Olympic Squad for the Tokyo Games this summer.
West Ham confirmed the call-up on the club’s official website yesterday.
Reid will travel to Japan soon ready for the start of the tournament on July 21st.
And he will not return until August 7th at the earliest – a week before the Premier League season begins.
Not part of Moyes’s plans but Olympic call could help or hinder potential move
Even though he may not be part of David Moyes’s plans, it may make offloading Reid to Brentford or anywhere else problematic.
Of course on the flip side, eye-catching performances in Japan may bring him to the attention of other clubs.
The Olympics will be Reid’s second major tournament with his country, having represented the All Whites at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
New Zealand have been drawn in Group B for the Olympics, with their campaign beginning on 22 July against South Korea in Kashima. Three days later they take on Honduras in the same city, before concluding their group phase against Romania in Sapporo on 28 July.