West Ham cult hero Carlton Cole has revealed that he expects the club to sell star man Declan Rice in the future.
The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in the country this season, which has unsurprisingly attracted the attention of some top teams.
Cole has had his say: “I’d tell him to focus and concentrate and be somewhere where you’re not a number but you’re prized and you’re the main man,” he told the Daily Mail. “You’ll get your chance at the big clubs if you’re still doing it down the line.
“He’s only 20. If he’s doing it at 24 with a load of international caps under his belt then the club won’t hesitate if a big offer comes in. But it is premature at the moment and he is sensible enough to take that on board.”
OPINION
It’s a big surprise that Cole would come out and say that West Ham wouldn’t hesitate to sell Rice. What’s the point of him saying that? It’s probably true that the club will sell Rice eventually, but it’s doubtful that they would bite a team’s hand off. Rice will leave the Hammers eventually, that’s pretty much guaranteed. No doubt he cares for the club and is enjoying his time as a prized piece of manager Manuel Pellegrini’s set up. However, that’s not going to be the case forever. He’s too young and too talented not to be playing for a top team, and even the most ardent West Ham fan would have to admit that. Perhaps the Hammers can keep hold of him for another season or two, but he’ll be going at some point you’d think. Still an ex West Ham player like Cole doesn’t have to come out and say that. He’s being honest, which you appreciate, but this probably wasn’t the most tactful move from him.
