The summer awaits what will be one of the biggest moves in English football for a local player as West Ham United brace up themselves ahead of the departure of Declan Rice.
Rice, who started as a center back has grown to be one of the best midfielders in the world and has become too big for The Hammers, who are now opened to selling him with just a year left on his current contract.
The 24year old has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, who are believed to have started courting the former Chelsea Academy player before the end of the last calender year as Mikel Arteta seek to take his vastly improving side to another level.
Manchester United have also been link with the England midfielder while a return to Chelsea has also been talked about in the past but that is becoming more unlikely even though the Stamford Bridge landlords are still in hunt for midfielders, Rice appears to not be of their interest for now.
There have also been approach from abroad as Bundesliga giant, Bayern Munich have joined the battle for his signature and even though the prospect is exciting, it is very unlikely that Rice leaves the Premier League.
Former football manager, Dean Saunders reacting to the Declan Rice potential move on talkSPORT via West Ham Zone : “If I’m Arsenal, I’m thinking he’s definitely going to improve our team, if you put him in Arsenal’s team, and Arsenal are probably the nearest to Man City at the moment.
Saunders, who was also a former Liverpool player added; “But Liverpool, I’m interested in seeing what they’re going to do because he gets in their team as well.
“He’d definitely make their team better. They need a couple of players, and they need one exactly like him, of that ilk.” he concluded.
Ally McCoist, a retired former Scottish international said; “If I’m Declan Rice and I’m weighing up my options, I’m probably thinking I’d rather go to Arsenal than Manchester United.
.jpeg)
“I looked at Manchester United at the weekend, and I know they’ve won the League Cup, but they look as though they’re four or five players behind Manchester City.
“I still think Arsenal are well behind Manchester City, but I think they’ve got the potential to get nearer to them quicker.” he added while speaking on TalkSport via Mail Sport.
Rice is expected to make his decision after the UEFA Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina on Wednesday, a chance for him to leave the club on a high.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich are the front-runners for his signature and for The Gunners, the bigger worry is matching West Ham United’s demands as Rice appears to be in favour of a move to the Emirates.
Author : Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
