West Ham duo Declan Rice and Issa Diop could be worth £200 million in the near future, according to Football.London journalist Sam Inkersole.
Both players enjoyed fine seasons in the Premier League last term, and both have been linked with moves to Manchester United this summer, as reported by the Daily Star and the Independent.
But the Hammers are unwilling to shift their stance in either case, with Rice not for sale, as reported by Sky Sports, and Diop valued at around £60 million, also reported by Sky.
And Inkersole believes that is a wise decision, suggesting that both players could earn the Hammers a small fortune further down the line.
Writing in a piece for Football.London, he said: “The idea that West Ham would cash in now on two of their prized assets is nonsense and beggars belief.
“It’s not unreasonable to think that, given how inflated the transfer market can get and to be fair, already is, those two players would be worth £100m each in the next two or three years.
“That might sound ridiculous to say but it’s not farfetched.”
OPINION
Honestly, Inkersole could be bang on the money with this one. Aside form anything else, the rapid inflation of the market means that anything is possible over the next few years. Look at the kind of fee a fairly average Premier League player commands these days. Manchester United have just paid £15 million for Daniel James, a Championship winger unproven in the top flight with one decent season under his belt. Imagine, then, what a player as good as Declan Rice could be worth in 12 or 18 months time if he continues to develop at the rate that he is. Here is a 20-year-old who over the course of a season has made himself undroppable for club and essential for his country. The sky is truly the limit, and if that is the case, then why would the Hammers put a ceiling on how much they can earn from the pair by selling them now? Both are under contract, both seem happy, so milk it for all it’s worth.
