---
title: "West Ham United: Source makes January swoop claim after announcement"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-united-source-makes-january-swoop-claim-after-announcement/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2021-09-26T12:35:16Z"
modified: "2021-09-26T12:35:16Z"
---

# West Ham United: Source makes January swoop claim after announcement

**According to a West Ham United source who was speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-west-ham-reach-5m-agreement-ahead-of-january-window/), the Irons have ‘laid the groundwork for a January signing’ after a club announcement involving Winston Reid.**

### The Lowdown: End of an era…

Earlier this week, West Ham dropped a [big announcement](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/september/21-september/winston-reid-departs-west-ham-united-mutual-consent) met with [plenty of heartfelt reaction](https://twitter.com/WestHam/status/1440382822993195010) as they confirmed that the club and their former defender mutually agreed to terminate his deal.

[West Ham developments!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-developments/)

The New Zealand international had two more years remaining on his Hammers contract, which was due to expire in [2023](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2017/august/18-august/winston-reid-signs-new-long-term-west-ham-united-contract), but he and West Ham decided to cut it short and part company after a memorable 10-year spell in east London.

After this decision, a Rush Green source has now shared some more positive news.

### The Latest: Source makes January swoop claim…

Speaking to [Football Insider,](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-west-ham-reach-5m-agreement-ahead-of-january-window/) a West Ham source has now claimed that Reid’s exit will lay the groundwork for a January signing after they paid off his deal for less than the value remaining on his contract.

Indeed, as per their information, GSB agreed a pay-off with the 33-year-old reaching around £5m, a lower figure than the estimated £7m in salary which was still to run on his deal.

West Ham’s decision not only saves the club around £2m, but also frees up wage budget and delivers an extra squad berth for manager David Moyes ahead of the January transfer window.

### The Verdict: Silver lining…

Reid’s exit from east London, while emotional given his [long-serving cult hero status](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/september/21-september/winston-reid-departs-west-ham-united-mutual-consent), was arguably a necessity in the eyes of financiers at West Ham.

Moyes deemed the defender surplus to requirements, having [loaned him out twice](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/february/01-february/winston-reid-joins-brentford-loan) since the start of 2020, and keeping him on the books for a minute longer served no purpose for the club.

It was high time that West Ham agreed to cut Reid’s extended stay short and part ways – but the player will always be remembered for fine moments on the field like his [winner at home to Millwall in 2012](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/february/04-february/day-winston-reid-seals-electric-win-over-millwall) and the [last-ever goal at the Boleyn Ground](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36189168).

***In other news: ExWHUemployee lifts lid on behind-scenes West Ham development in overhaul plan, find out more [here.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-news/west-ham-united-exwhuemployee-lifts-lid-on-gsb-overhaul-plan/)***