West Ham star Declan Rice is expected to make a decision regarding his international allegiance in the next 10 days, according to the Times.
The 20-year-old has been a standout performer for the Hammers so far this campaign, and scored his first goal for his boyhood club in the 1-0 win over Arsenal at the London Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
Up until this point, Rice has made three international appearances for the Republic of Ireland, but was born in London and qualifies to play for England as well.
Speculation has been going on for a while about whether or not he will pledge himself to Ireland or make the switch to Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions setup, and the Times suggest that his final choice will be made within the next week and a half.
OPINION
Rice can’t really lose on this one. If he chooses to continue playing for Ireland then he has every chance of Mick McCarthy building a team around him, and he could realistically be captain of the side within the next three years. If he chooses to switch to playing for England, then he will be on elf a host of young talent breaking through at the moment who will believe that they have what it takes to become on elf the brightest teams in world football, and the holding midfield position that he has already claimed at West Ham could be his for the next 15 years. Both sets of fans will be hoping he goes with them, and it’s testament as to how highly thought of and liable the young man is that even at the age of 20, he is almost universally admired and courted. Either way, Rice is going to be a star.
