Pep Guardiola could turn to West Ham star Declan Rice this summer should Fernandinho leave the Premier League champions-elect.
The 53-cap Brazilian defensive midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and Rice is viewed as the ideal candidate to replace the 36-year-old, who has played a remarkable 347 times for the club.
According to a report from The Times, as cited by West Ham Central on Twitter, Guardiola has the 22-year-old Iron on his radar – whilst Manchester United and Chelsea are also mentioned as interested parties.
Twitter: Man City consider making a bid for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice if Fernandinho decides to leave at the end of the season.
– times (@WestHam_Central)
Rice is currently sidelined with a knee issue picked up away on international duty – prior to which the 15-cap England man had played every minute in the Premier League for David Moyes’ side.
In those 29 league outings, the on-field Hammers captain has earned an average Sofascore rating of 7.09 – higher than the 6.96 rated Fernandinho.
READ WEST HAM VERDICT
City, who reached their first UEFA Champions League final this week, are one of the few clubs in the present market that could likely meet West Ham’s valuation for Rice.
That said, with potential elite European football on the horizon, the need to sell for the club and the desire to leave for the midfielder should diminish.
Valued at £54million (Transfermarkt) and under contract at the London Stadium until 2024, realistically the east London hierarchy could hold out for in excess of £100million for their prized asset.
