West Ham defender Winston Reid has cooled talk of a possible exit from Upton Park in January after insisting that players pay very little attention to any speculation from the media.

The Hammers have been one of the surprise packages in the Premier League this season, while Reid’s performances have received high praise from a number of sources.

The New Zealand international has been linked with several potential suitors, although Arsenal are understood to be his biggest admirers.

The defender’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the season and, without a new deal on the table, the east London club may look to cash in.

However, the 26-year-old insists that he is keeping his head down and ignoring any speculation that has been circulating over his future as he looks to continue doing a job for the Upton Park outfit.

Reid revealed that January can be a strange month for players as the rumour mill picks up speed but insists the best thing to do is keep putting in a good level of performance on the field.

Reid said: “People often ask me whether January is a strange month for footballers because of the transfer window and gossip – to be honest as players we don’t really notice it that much.

“It’s not like we look out for news about players, and it’s mainly the media surrounding football as to why there’s always a lot of talk.”