Winston Reid sought to leave West Ham United on loan during the now-concluded summer transfer window as he does not feature in David Moyes’ plans, according to The Athletic.
The 33-year-old returned to the London Stadium at the end of last season, having spent the latter half of the campaign with Brentford. Reid helped the Bees to clinch promotion out of the Championship, via the play-offs, during his time at the club.
But the veteran New Zealand international now faces a difficult few months in east London after failing to leave. Moyes does not intend on reintroducing Reid into the West Ham first-team, with four ahead in the Irons’ centre-back order.
Angelo Ogbonna has started each of the Hammers’ opening three Premier League fixtures with Craig Dawson. Moyes also has Issa Diop and signed Kurt Zouma from Chelsea for £30m. Replacing Fabian Balbuena, while Frederik Alves has joined Sunderland on loan.
Alves was the only player to leave West Ham on a temporary deal this summer, with Reid unable to follow. The £70,000-per-week centre-back, who is under contract until 2023, had wanted to secure a loan transfer, but was unsuccessful.
Reid will now have to rely on receiving offers from clubs in Portugal, Russia or Turkey – among others – to leave. But he will not be able to join any major European leagues, whose markets closed along with England’s on Tuesday.
Should Moyes reintroduce Reid to the West Ham squad?
Reid last featured for West Ham in March 2018 when he sustained a serious knee injury at Swansea City, and is unlikely to under Moyes. He has proven his fitness since, with a spell at MLS franchise Sporting Kansas City on loan before joining Brentford.
The 25-cap international made 11 appearances with the Bees, starting seven, and Thomas Frank trusted him to help see out the play-off final against Swansea. Reid also started three of New Zealand’s four games at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. But Danny Hay had to replace him after six-minutes during the second group stage fixture due to a knee injury.
Reid missed the final group stage game as a result of the issue but returned for the quarter-final. So, his injury may have restricted the defender’s chances of securing a loan transfer. Yet Frank was full of praise at Brentford, stating via the Ealing Times in February:
“With Winston, just his presence on the pitch is spreading among his teammates. We knew when we signed him, we needed his personality and experience. He was a giant [against Sheffield Wednesday].”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
