Transfer insider Dean Jones believes West Ham are at serious risk of losing star man Declan Rice in the upcoming transfer window.
THE LOWDOWN: HIGHLY-SOUGHT
Last week 90min reported that Manchester United were prepared to smash their transfer record to land the midfielder with the report suggesting that his representatives have made it clear to the club where he has been since he was 14 that this summer is the right time to move on.
Hammers boss David Moyes has declared before that it would take at least £150m to take their most-prized possession with the England international said to be in favour of a return to his boyhood club Chelsea as opposed to a move to United.
THE LATEST: WORRYING UPDATE
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones has now revealed that after 186 appearances and counting in a claret and blue shirt, the Londoner is keen to seek a new challenge.
He said:
“I think that any buying club might be helped by the fact that Declan Rice, from what I’m hearing, does seem more open than ever about the idea of leaving West Ham. That could be interesting.”
THE VERDICT: HUGE IMPLICATIONS
Losing Rice would be a fatal blow to the Irons’ hopes of establishing themselves as European mainstays but with his contract not up until 2024 and with the option of a further 12-months they could negotiate a pretty pence for his sale.
GSB’s attempts to tie the £62k-per-week star down to a new deal were rebuffed twice last summer by the player which would suggest that leaving is on his mind.
Currently, the England international rates out as the Irons’ second-best performer in the Premier League, averaging a WhoScored rating of 7.12. He also ranks second for tackles (2.3 per game) and first for interceptions (1.8 per game), reinforcing his influence to the side defensively, whilst a joint-most 1.5 dribbles per game and nearly 60 passes per outing, suggests he does a lot for them offensively too.
No fan will want to see the player leave but if he doesn’t want to be at the club it can’t be helped and as long as the asking price is met and is reinvested in the team perhaps the long term progress of the club can be secured.
Although one would like Rice to be at the centre of that revolution.
