Four Defenders Who Could Replace Reid At West Ham

Article by Brandon Freeman

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With the January transfer window beckoning and Winston Reid yet to agree on a new deal the West Ham hierarchy must surely be looking for a replacement should Reid wish to leave the club at the end of the season. Although it remains uncertain as to whether the club will allow Reid to leave for nothing at the end of the season, the January window may well be the time to cash in on the New Zealand international and put to bed an issue which has been in the press for some time. Should the club wish to secure a replacement for Reid in January, here are four possible replacements the club would do well to consider.

Antonio Rudiger

Antonio Rudiger may well be a name familiar to many hammers fans, with the 6ft 3in centre back heavily linked with a move to Upton Park throughout the summer transfer window, however a deal failed to materialise. Capped 5 times for Germany, Rudiger has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal in recent times and if West Ham can maintain their current form and be in the top-six when the transfer window opens the possibility of European footballmay well be able to tempt Rudiger away from the club he signed a four-year contract extension with in 2013.

Dan Burn

Another centre back West Ham have been heavily linked with in recent times is Fulham’s 22 year-old Dan Burn. Sam Allardyce has been rumoured to have been preparing a £4milllion bid for the Fulham youngster who has caught the eye of a number of clubs this season. At just 22, Burn would be a worthy long-term replacement for Winston Reid, however there surely are doubts that Burn may not yet be at the requisite level to try and fill the considerable void Reid’s departure would create.

Nicolas N’Koulou

A regular fixture in the Cameroon national side N’Koulou has won 51 caps and was voted in the Ligue 1 team of the year in both 2012 and 2013. N’Koulou has both the necessary quality and experience to replace Winston Reid should the New Zealand international leave East London in January. N’Koulou also appears to have caught the eye of West Ham staff with the club having reportedly sent scouts to watch the player in recent weeks and with his contract expiring at the end of the season Marseille may well find themselves under pressure to sell him in January should he fail to agree fresh terms with the club.

Virgil van Dijk

Last but by no means least comes the SPL’s flying Dutchman Virgil van Dijk who has been in fantastic form since joining Celtic in 2013 and was voted Celtic’s player of the year after being part a Celtic defence that went 1,215 minutes without conceding a goal. However, should Big Sam wish to bring van Dijk to Upton Park he will surely face stern competition from both Arsenal and Manchester United who have been heavily linked with him as both clubs look to resolve their own defensive problems. It also remains to be seen whether the board would be willing to match the £7million Celtic would demand for him, especially given that he has no Premier League experience.

Which players do you think West Ham should target in January, and do you believe Winston Reid will leave the club before the end of the season?

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