West Ham United seem to be edging ever closer to coming to terms with the reality that they can’t hang on to Declan Rice forever with Newcastle United among several clubs chasing the England man.
David Moyes has been fielding the same questions about the future of Declan Rice for years now. Every summer Rice is linked with a big-money move away from West Ham and every summer, Moyes slaps a £100million-plus price tag on him to scare away potential suitors.
However, it seems that time is running out for the Hammers and they are starting to finally realise they can’t hang on to their star player much longer. Moyes has still done his annual slapping of the enormous price tag, but this time it doesn’t seem to be putting other clubs off.
David Moyes says there’s a ‘good chance’ Rice will leave this summer
Now David Moyes has said in his recent press conference, via Sky Sports: “We honestly hope he stays. We’d love for him to be a West Ham player but we are aware that might not be the case at the end of the season.
“So that’s one of the scenarios around planning. There are plans that we have Dec here but we’re also fully aware there is a good chance we won’t have him.”
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West Ham recently said they’d take accept a bid of £120million or £100million plus a midfielder for the 24-year-old. Many pundits think they’re asking way too much, and in a world where Real Madrid are set to land the brilliant Jude Bellingham for £130million, I’m inclined to agree.
Newcastle need a CDM and PIF will want to make a statement signing
That’s not to say that I don’t rate Declan Rice. The mere idea that we could have him in our squad next season is ridiculously exciting. I just think West Ham have taken things a bit too far with the “England tax”.
Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly keen on the England midfielder too with Arsenal apparently leading the way for his signature, but with Newcastle so close to landing Champions League football next season it’s thought that the PIF will want to make a huge statement signing, so may go all-in on Rice.
As much as I think £100million is too much, if that’s what it takes to bring him to Newcastle, and as long as it doesn’t negatively affect the rest of the club’s transfer plans, then I’m all for the move. We need a defensive midfielder and Rice is one of the best in the world in that position. West Ham legend Mark Noble once said that Rice is a ‘monster on the pitch‘, how can we not want that in our side?
Besides, imagine the salty tears when we spend £100million on a player. That’s got to be worth something, right?