One of Arsenal’s top January transfer targets Winston Reid has been approached illegally according to West Ham boss Sam Allardyce…
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes transfer rules have been broken, with Arsenal target Winston Reid edging closer to a departure from Upton Park, as reported by the BBC.
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Having failed to agree an extension on his current deal, Reid looks set to exit the overachieving Premier League side very soon. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Allardyce needs to sell the New Zealand international this January, or face losing him for free next summer.
The Hammers boss doesn’t believe everything has been done by the book however, and has raised questions over the nature of the 26-year-old’s exit.
“You hear rumours. But can we prove it?” he said.
“We have had the regulations for a long, long time. If you can prove that clubs have broken the rules, then they are in serious trouble aren’t they? But you can’t prove it these days. You hear rumours, this, that and the other.
“It might have nothing to do with the two clubs directly, it could be between two agents, so how can you relate that to the football clubs? You can’t, so it can all get done that way.”
Having entered the final six months of his contract, Reid is now able to discuss terms with other clubs under the Bosman ruling. Allardyce seems under the impression that a deal is already done however, and that his tough tackling centre-back has been targeted long before the January transfer window.
“If he is not going to sign a contract here, I would find it highly unlikely if it is not already verbally done,” he continued.
Arsenal are thought to be the front runners for his signature, but may have to wait until the end of the season to see him at the Emirates if the West Ham manager is willing to play hard-ball.