Why Spurs Shouldn't Be Downbeat on Missing out on Winston Reid

One of Tottenham Hotspur's reported big targets for the summer, Winston Reid, has signed a new contract with current club West Ham United to end talk of a move on a free transfer.

BBC Sport report that he has opted against interest from Arsenal and Spurs, among others, to sign a six-and-a-half-year deal with the Hammers, saying he "felt valued" and that the joint-chairman was "clearly very committed" to ensuring Reid stayed.

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QUOTES: @WinstonReid2 is delighted to have committed his future to the Hammers. #WHUFC #COYI pic.twitter.com/PKqu1R4kTE

— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) March 5, 2015"

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WR: "It’s one of those things that took a bit of time, but we got there and I’m very happy to be here for the next part of my career."

— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) March 5, 2015"

While the obvious appeal of taking Reid without a transfer fee would make good business sense, Spurs shouldn't feel tremendously worried at missing out on his signature, since he's not a player who would push them significantly closer to their goal of making the top four.

Depth, but not Range

Tottenham have always seemed to have a plethora of centre-backs at their disposal, without one player really standing out as the leader and guaranteed starter since the enforced demise of Ledley King.

Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

This season offers the same sort of talent level: Jan Vertonghen, Federico Fazio, Vlad Chiriches and Younes Kaboul are the senior quartet, with the former two the usual starters for manager Mauricio Pochettino. Certainly they possess qualities of their own, but none has proved to be absolute top-drawer, consistently dominant options in the Premier League.

By team tactical setup or individual ability, they have been good without outstanding—and Reid would not change that.

Reid's Season

While Reid has won acclaim for his performances this term, he really hasn't been anything special. He is an aggressive defender, a good challenger of the ball and a committed performer but as prone now to lapses in concentration and marking as he has been for most of his time at the club.

He steps out of the defensive line at times, leaving gaps behind, and has at times not reacted quickly enough to spot danger developing.

Harry Engels/Getty Images

He is a decent, Premier League-standard defender, reliable enough for a team of West Ham's position and ambitions, but someone who will make the difference at a team looking to move from top six to top four? Extremely unlikely.

At best, it is probable that Reid might have been seen as a squad option for Spurs, another player to give depth and experience if either of the first two picks were unavailable.

That he is staying at Upton Park is great news for West Ham, but it really shouldn't affect Tottenham, their level of transfer activity or their fans' optimism in the slightest.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

As far as Spurs signing new defenders goes, there would even be a case to suggest that Reid's team-mate James Tomkins, a more mobile, aerially dominant and conscientious defender (though also error-prone at times) would be a better fit for Tottenham's requirements, especially in potentially partnering Jan Vertonghen.

Again, it is largely the free-transfer status of Reid that would have appealed the most. Now that has gone, the furore over his performances will likely die down.

Future Improvement

Where Spurs need to look is in finding an aggressive but mobile defender to replace Fazio, who is a good defender aerially more often than not but is often turned around by speedy attackers with good movement off the ball.

With Mauricio Pochettino regularly using a 4-2-3-1 system, and with Vertonghen still likely to dart up field at times, the remaining centre-back must be able to cover ground laterally and have the pace to positionally cover his team-mate.

The north London club will doubtless look to spend significant money again over summer, with midfield and striker areas needing attention, too, but the depth is already there in defence. At 21 years old, Eric Dier, who has played plenty at full-back this term, is another terrific option to look at centrally for the future.

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Again Eric Dier comes in with no fuss, no drama. The boy has such composure for one so young. Centre back is his home though

— Paul O Keefe (@pokeefe1) February 7, 2015"

The lack of signing Reid won't matter to Spurs either way as they look to regularly make the Champions League, only nurturing or upgrading the talent they already have at the club.

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