Allardyce gives transfer update and rues Reid injury after Arsenal defeat

Thursday, January 24, 2013
8:11 AM

Transfer news: West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says injury scares to Winston Reid and Daniel Potts in yesterday’s 5-1 defeat to Arsenal make defensive signings this month even more urgent.

The Hammers boss has made no secret of his desire to bring in defensive reinforcements this month and matters were compounded for him when he was forced to withdraw Reid with a groin injury and Potts with concussion as his side were thrashed by the Gunners.

It remains to be seen whether the duo will be sidelined with their injuries but Allardyce admits he will be forced to step up his defender hunt.

He told Sky Sports 1: “It really is difficult to secure the player that we’re looking for. Price and quality has to go together for us.

“If the price is right and the player’s not good enough we have to say no, and if the player’s good enough but the price is too big we have to say no.

“It’s an unfortunate situation that we find ourselves in. I’m not trying to put the owners under pressure here at all whatsoever, it’s just a fact of life.

“We have to keep trying to find the defending side of it particularly because we took Winston Reid off with a groin today.

“We can stand an injury anywhere else on the pitch other than another defender, and now we’ve ended up with two injured; Reid with a groin and young Danny off with concussion.

“It gets even more desperate that we find a solution in the transfer market.”