---
title: "Pundit believes it’s a ‘matter of time’ before Declan Rice leaves West Ham"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/10/18/pundit-believes-its-a-matter-of-time-before-declan-rice-leaves-west-ham/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-10-18T18:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-10-18T18:00:00Z"
---

# Pundit believes it’s a ‘matter of time’ before Declan Rice leaves West Ham

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/10/18/commentator-claims-vladimir-coufal-should-be-available-for-tottenham/) midfielder [Declan Rice](https://readwestham.com/2021/10/15/pundits-lavish-praise-on-west-ham-star-declan-rice/) is seemingly never far from speculation linking him with a move away from the London Stadium.

The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with Chelsea in the past and now a report from [The Athletic](https://theathletic.co.uk/2888719/2021/10/14/west-ham-mailbag-rice-future-bowen-finishing-soucek-form/?redirected=1) has claimed Manchester City have made the ace their ‘top priority’ to replace Fernandinho.

> [#ManCity](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManCity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) have made Declan Rice their ‘top priority’ signing to replace Fernandinho when he departs the club.\
> \
> \[@TheAthleticUK\]
>
> — The 1894 (@\_the1894) [October 18, 2021](https://twitter.com/_the1894/status/1450050722750402566?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Speaking on [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58920777), former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks has claimed that it’s ‘only a matter of time’ before Rice leaves the Hammers.

> West Ham fans won’t like me for saying this but how long can the East London club hold onto him? This lad should be playing Champions League football. It’s only a matter of time.

Crooks also stated that the [27-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/nationalmannschaft/spieler/357662/verein_id/3299) England star ‘gets better with every game’ having replaced Mark Noble as on-field West Ham captain.

This season Rice has scored [two goals and provided two assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/leistungsdaten/spieler/357662) in 10 appearances across all competitions.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Whilst a move has seemed inevitable for some time, recent [progress under David Moyes](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/march/07-march/david-moyes-transformation-year-ago-now-great) renews the belief that the midfielder could be an Iron for the long haul.

Participation in the [Europa League](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/may/23-may/west-ham-united-qualify-uefa-europa-league-final-day-win-over) this term is proof that the current crop are on the right path, perhaps going deep in the competition could keep Rice on board.

Should it come to pass that a sale is the only option as City circle, West Ham must extract every possible penny from their [£63million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/marktwertverlauf/spieler/357662) prize asset.