GiveMeSport
·24 November 2022
GiveMeSport
·24 November 2022
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice could remain at the London Stadium for another year if David Moyes’ side win the Europa Conference League this season, believes Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.
Reports suggest that the Hammers could be willing to listen to offers for the England international next summer, but Bridge does not think it is guaranteed that he will leave the club in 2023.
According to The Telegraph, West Ham could be prepared to sell Rice for around £70m after the end of this season.
Chelsea are one side who are thought to be interested in the 23-year-old, with the west London outfit likely to be in the market for a new midfielder.
N’Golo Kante and Jorginho are out of contract in June 2023, so signing someone for the engine room could become a priority for Graham Potter.
West Ham, however, will not want to lose their captain, who has not missed a single league game for them this season.
Despite all of the exit talk, Bridge thinks West Ham have a chance of keeping hold of Rice if they manage to go all the way in the Europa Conference League.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Sky Sports reporter said: “If Declan Rice can maybe win a trophy this season – I know West Ham are out of the Carabao Cup – but a European trophy, that might give him just one more year there.”
Perhaps it would help, but it is hard to imagine a stinker in Qatar putting off any interested party.
Rice has proven himself in the Premier League and is now easily one of the best holding midfielders in the country.
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As per FBref, the England star has ranked in the 94th percentile for pass completion and the 94th for interceptions among his positional peers over the last year, so this is someone who can keep the ball and win it back.
From West Ham’s perspective, then, they will be desperate to keep hold of their £62,000-a-week skipper. However, it looks inevitable that he will depart the London Stadium at some point.
Maybe winning a trophy this season could delay things. But if Rice does not eventually end up at a club like Chelsea, that would be very surprising.