Van Dijk on West Ham’s radar as Reid saga rumbles on

West Ham have been the latest Premier League club to be linked with Celtic centre-back Virgil van Dijk, with the Dutchman a possible replacement for Winston Reid, who looks to be on his way out of the club.

Arsenal failed in a deadline day swoop for the former Groningen man, but are reportedly still interested in completing the signing with defensive injuries taking hold.

However, with a move to the Gunners likely to see the 23-year-old added as a squad player, a switch to Upton Park would surely see him get more game time, with a fee of around £7m reported.

He would certainly be the type of player that could be a like-for-like replacement for Reid, with his contract dispute showing no signs of being resolved.

Having joined the Scottish champions in the summer of 2013 for £2.6m, the 6ft4in defender went on to adorn himself to the Bhoys fans and team-mates alike.

Winning Players’ Player of the Year award in your first season at the club is not bad going, but it is not just his defensive capabilities that Van Dijk is known for.

He bagged five goals in his maiden season in Glasgow, adding to the seven goals he scored in 62 appearances for Groningen.

Compared to Winston Reid, who has got six in 101 in the claret and blue, that’s a pretty good return.

And while West Ham fans are in dreamland with the start they have made to the season, currently sat in a Champions League spot, they’ve lacked the defensive solidity of recent seasons.

Sam Allardyce’s side have kept just one clean sheet in all competitions and defensive reinforcements could be on the boss’s mind as his new found strike force continues to prosper.

Next up for the Hammers is a visit of Manchester City on Saturday lunch-time, with the hosts priced up at 9/2 to defeat the champions.

All odds and markets correct as of the date of publishing

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