Why Sign Lovren When Irons Have Reid?

Perhaps it is because of a lack of credible football news during the Covid 19 lock down that strange transfer speculation is rearing it's ugly head again, stories that are normally reserved in the Journo's locker for the International break are surfacing in order to fill the vacuum. So 'speculation' that West Ham United will move to sign Liverpool star Dejan Lovren has intensified, the Irons were linked with a move for Lovren last week in a report that claimed Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will allow the 30 year old to leave in the next window ‘due to his outstanding service’ to the club.

Spuriously it has been claimed clubs from Italy and Spain are interested in Lovren, but he fancies a move to London and West Ham, 'apparently' David Moyes is keen and, according to those bastions of honesty The Express, the Hammer’s interest in the Croatian has intensified after a price of £18 Million was mooted amid interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace.

Reports from Italy have claimed that Liverpool want £18 Million for Lovren, with Lazio, Lyon and AC Milan among the foreign teams keen on the Croatian, but £18 Million for a 30 year old defensive midfield player is a ludicrous price to pay for a player who has rarely featured for the Champions elect this season. The huge price tag is even more ridiculous when you bare in mind the fact that West Ham United have their very own combative defensive midfielder in the form of Winston Reid, Reid is admittedly 11 months older, and is currently on loan to Sporting Kansas City in the MLS.

Reid has just over three years left on his remaining contract with West Ham, and if he is able to stay injury free and get match fit he surely represents a better option than the veteran Croation who doesn't appear to have much left in the tank, whereas Reid has essentially had nearly two years off from the rigours of first team football. It should be remembered that Winston Reid won the 2013 Hammer of the Year award and was once held in such esteem, and was pursued by a host of clubs both domestically and abroad, that he was 'rewarded' with a massive six year contract in 2017.

Unfortunately Lady Luck was looking in the opposite direction when Winston was knocked unconscious during the game against Swansea, his injury was unique in that he was unconscious when he hit the ground, falling so awkwardly that it completely 'destroyed' his bodies set up, particularly his knee. Reid spent months and months rehabilitating, but given the club's precarious circumstances was unable to get any realistic meaningful game time, the decision was made to send Reid and his family to the States in order for him to 'fully' recover and get valuable minutes on the pitch.

There has been talk that West Ham United are desperate to offload the experienced New Zealand captain to save on his £85,000 per week wages, but surely if he can regain his fitness the club would be better off retaining his services, after all who has been paying his wages while he has been injured? Surely a returning fit again Reid would be a better option than a Liverpool reject who is a similar age and would demand twice the wages? - Ed