Winston Reid seeks Arsenal move as search for defender hits dead end

West Ham defender Winston Reid is willing to move to Arsenal if they bid for him this month, according to the Daily Mirror.

The Gunners are in the market for a defender and Reid, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is desperate to play in the Champions League. Arsene Wenger had previously revealed that he is keeping tabs on Reid and the player's current contract situation may force Wenger's hand, especially with Mathieu Debuchy out for a long time following a dislocated shoulder.

Reid, gave away a penalty against Arsenal, when the two teams met at Upton Park in the Christmas period. He has yet proved himself to be a quality defender over the course of the season and West Ham are in the race for a Champions League spot.

Sam Allardyce is unwilling to let Reid leave, as the New Zealand player has become an integral part of his team. However, the manager revealed in an interview that he has done everything in his capacity to change Reid's mind, to no avail.

"We've done as much as we possibly can. It was probably the longest negotiations I've ever seen with a player. Whether we can get there in the end, I'm not sure. That's in the chairman's hands, not mine,"Allardyce said.

"I just hope, with us doing so well this year, and us moving into the new stadium, is there a bigger of better club around than West Ham for Winston Reid? I'm not so sure there is, you know," he added.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are back in the hunt for a top four spot with aplomb, beating Manchester City at the Etihad comprehensively, while putting forward a disciplined defensive performance.

Francis Coquelin, Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny were the stars of the show, as they kept Sergio Aguero and David Silva out, with City missing the drive and impetus of Yaya Toure, who is currently on international duty with Ivory Coast.