Transfer stories have leapt with the arrival of new head coach Scott Parker – each manager has his own ideas on the ideal shape of his squad and Parker’s preferences will be very different to those of his predecessor. Matt’s article this morning dealt with the suggestion that Parker’s former defender CJ Egan Riley could be a January target.
Last week – largely un-noticed during the noise of Parker’s appointment and West Ham’s two Championship fixtures, flashscore reported that Scott Parker’s priority in January could well be to set up a reunion with former defensive midfielder Harrison Reed. The reports have continued just today with YahooSport now the latest onto the ‘Reed to West Ham‘ story:
“West Ham could turn to one of Scott Parker’s former Fulham players as they begin planning for the January transfer window, with Harrison Reed likely to emerge as a target.
Reed: One last hurrah at West Ham?
The pair worked together at Craven Cottage, where Reed became an important part of Parker’s midfield.
His style of play is understood to be a key component of the football the new West Ham manager wants to implement, making the 31-year-old an interesting option as he looks to reshape the squad.”
Reminiscent of Sam Allardyce’s signing of his former skipper Kevin Nolan, bringing the midfielder to east London could add hugely to Parker’s West Ham’s leadership quotient – but a question mark will then surely hang over Alvarez or Magassa’s West Ham future.
Exactly as Gonzo wrote regarding stories linking West Ham with Swansea City midfielder Marko Stamenić, one would think there are far higher priorities than merely adding another midfielder to West Ham’s burgeoning list of idle squad players in that department.
But knowing how managers each have their own ‘pet’ players – such as Nuno with Traore and Morato – experience tells us that it could well be a transfer story that gathers pace as the winter window nears. If he has half the impact of Kevin Nolan, he’ll be very welcome indeed.
Potentially a dreadful signing.