---
title: "Virals: Declan Rice lined up as Manchester City target"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/05/06/virals-declan-rice-lined-up-as-manchester-city-target/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-05-06T08:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-05-06T08:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: Declan Rice lined up as Manchester City target

Pep Guardiola could turn to [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/05/05/virals-west-ham-submitted-as-favourites-for-andrea-belotti/) star [Declan Rice](https://readwestham.com/2021/05/05/virals-manchester-united-deem-declan-rice-too-slow-for-transfer/) this summer should Fernandinho leave the Premier League champions-elect.

The [53-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fernandinho/nationalmannschaft/spieler/26267/verein_id/3439) Brazilian defensive midfielder is [out of contract at the end of the season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fernandinho/profil/spieler/26267) and Rice is viewed as the ideal candidate to replace the 36-year-old, who has played a [remarkable 347 times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fernandinho/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/26267) for the club.

According to a report from [The Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/manchester-city-consider-bid-for-west-hams-declan-rice-after-fernandinho-delays-new-deal-sqrbmp20r), as cited by [West Ham Central](https://twitter.com/WestHam_Central/status/1390059565211951112) 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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/nationalmannschaft/spieler/357662/verein_id/3299) 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](https://www.sofascore.com/player/declan-rice/856714) of 7.09 – higher than the [6.96](https://www.sofascore.com/player/fernandinho/13630) rated Fernandinho.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

City, who reached their [first UEFA Champions League final](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56989523) this week, are one of the few clubs in the present market that could likely [meet West Ham’s valuation](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/alletransfers/verein/281) for Rice.

That said, with potential [elite European football](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) on the horizon, the need to sell for the club and the desire to leave for the midfielder should diminish.

Valued at £54million ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/marktwertverlauf/spieler/357662)) and under [contract](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/profil/spieler/357662) at the London Stadium until 2024, realistically the east London hierarchy could hold out for in excess of £100million for their prized asset.