West Ham have reportedly opened talks to terminate the contract of central defender Winston Reid.
The former Irons’ favourite returned from a temporary loan spell at Brentford at the start of the season and is yet to feature competitively this season.
New arrivals and crippling injuries have seen the 33-year-old New Zealand international slip down the pecking order at the London Stadium.
According to a report from Football Insider, as cited by WHU News on Twitter, the Hammers have begun discussing an early contract termination.
Twitter: West Ham hold talks over ending £70k-a-week defender’s contract two years early: https://t.co/xBO0aFr7DK (@WHUNewsApp)
The report claims that the 25-cap defender could agree to a ‘handsome pay-off’ in order to cut short the two years remaining on a deal in east London.
Reid hasn’t played regularly for West Ham in three years following a knee injury suffered against Swansea City in 2018 and has since been sent out on loan to MLS side Sporting Kansas City.
Last season the powerful Kiwi made 11 appearances for Brentford in helping the Bees earn promotion to the top-flight.
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Valued at £1.35million (Transfermarkt), this would come as a financial blow to the club both in terms of expenditure and missing out on a potential fee.
However, since the late arrival of Kurt Zouma, Reid has become highly unlikely to feature at any stage of the season and deserves to find first-team football again.
Whatever happens, the 6’3 ace has been a superb servant to the Hammers – making 223 outings in claret and blue, giving his prime years to the club.
