All Whites skipper Winston Reid is reportedly on Arsenal's shopping list, with manager Arsene Wenger linked with a 6 million ($11.7m) bid for the West Ham defender in the January transfer window.
The Gunners currently lead the English Premier League and are awash with attacking options, headed by new German signing Mesut Ozil, but lack defensive depth behind Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, and Wenger is said to be keen to add Reid.
The 25-year-old has established himself as a first choice pick at West Ham since arriving from Danish club Midtjylland in 2010, helping the Hammers to the fourth-best defensive record in the English Premier League this season.
He is approaching 100 games for the club and remains contracted until 2015, having signed a two-year extension last January. But West Ham could be willing to cash in on an asset who was brought in for an undisclosed _ but thought to be minor _ fee after Reid's heroics at the 2010 World Cup.
He is a quick and athletic defender who is good in the air and is also an attractive proposition because he would be eligible to play in the Champions League.
