We’ve had the real good news with the signing of Winston Reid!
But believe it or not I reckon this will lead to even better news – the clinching of Carl Jenkinson as a Hammers permanent signing this summer.
That David Sullivan worked long and hard on the Reid deal is hardly a big surprise given what was at stake but his determination to and completion of the deal is none the less enormously praiseworthy.
For had he failed it would probably have cost the club around £10 million to find a replacement of the same calibre.
Instead, there seems absolutely no reason why the club can’t now move in with a bid which will ensure that Jenks – my leading contender for Player of the Year with Aaron Creswell – comes on board.
As we reported earlier in the week on this site he’s likely to cost between £5m – £7m and at the price I reckon that’s business thanks to Reid being nailed down.
It’s ironic that at a time too when we have re-signed James Tomkins and a deal is likely to be put in front of James Collins, young Doneil Henry seems set to show that he is one hell of a buy at £1.5 million.
He’s loan debut for Blackburn Rovers against Sheffield Wednesday was reportedly sensational and man of the match stuff.
As reported elsewhere on the site we get the chance to take a look at him in action against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
So ironically the problem position as many saw of it of this season looks solved given that we also have young Reece Oxford sitting in the background growing up.
For me Jenks is the key signing and I believe it’s on. The Reid deal was key in so many ways. Give thanks for the persuasive powers on high!
To right Hugh.DS sorting this deal out was going to have other positive implications,as you say,freed up extra cash for the summer not needed for a centre back.This could be a third or quarter of our summer budget now available for other signings in different positions.Jenkinson is a must,he is a little naive defensively sometimes at the moment but im sure he is going to be the real deal as he learns his craft.Just 23yrs old,he is atill gaining experience which will only improve him.
Ok,its ‘too’ not ‘to’ at the start.I dont want the grammar police after me,lol 😉
Grammar police me? Surely not lol
If Hugh is the Grammar police, I face a life sentence…;-)
Cresswell, Tomkins, Reid & Jenkinson – Good back four that has pace and youth.. they will all improve over the next few years. Im happy with that.
Looks a great back four on paper unless you are playing Palace ?
But must agree about Henry I think he would be good cover at right back aswell.
I hope we do sign Jenkinson, if the rumours are true and the price is 6 – 7 million he is worth that and more to us. He can still improve a lot on his defending but going forward he is the best right back we have had in a long time, so if SA is listening get on the front foot, you have seen that Chelsea, Man Utd, City, Liverpool etc can’t cope with our attacking !!! Reid signing is a great boost, him Tomkins or Collins, Jenkinson and Cresswell is great and if Doneill Henry is as good as Gary Bowyer intimated then things are looking good for us for a few seasons defensively. Hopefully Alex Song can regain his form, after the Arsenal game 7 of the next 9 games are winnable if we play as we can, especially as most of those teams are all under pressure and we can relax in the safety that we won’t be relegated, hopefully we can get some momentum up and have a really strong finish getting between 55 – 60 points, COYI !!!
These are good market news, good names. But, as I wrote in the past, I hope the owners are thinking without following Allardyce’s indications. I’d like the new manager with David’s to choose the new players.
Please please stop this Jenkinson campaign, poor defender, defensively poor, has pace, decent going forward, does not strike me a natural footballer, basically not good enough for Arsenal, not good enough for West Ham. Give the youngsters a chance and let Burke and oxford show what they have – which I believe is a lot better than this Arsenal reject. Save 6-7 million and put this into 3 midfielders, box to box, wide player and playmaker…
Go all out to sign Jenkinson.He is only going to improve as a player at just 23.If not Jonham can play instead,he seems to be an expert on fullbacks,he will know his defensive responsibilities,lol 😀