Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has claimed a move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is ‘inevitable’ in the near future.
The 23-year-old is perennially linked with a departure from the London Stadium amidst reported interest from Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Despite being the on-field club captain in a David Moyes’ side on the rise, Rice continues to be tipped to leave the Hammers.
Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish suggested that West Ham may not be able to fulfil the ace’s dreams.
Do West Ham match his ambitions? Having had a taste of Chelsea as a kid, maybe he’s had visions of going back to a top-four club. West Ham are now nearing the top four. That would probably depend on being able to keep all their best players. For Declan, players maybe don’t see what the manager’s trying to do. Maybe they don’t get the word that he’s been trying to get somebody who can make them a top-four club and take them even higher. It seems that somebody like Declan Rice leaving is inevitable. I don’t think he would chastise West Ham and say it’s a lack of ambition.
So far this season the 27-cap England man has earned an outstanding 7.25 Sofascore rating from 22 Premier League outings.
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Whilst it may be fanciful to suggest Rice will definitely be at the club for the remainder of what looks set to be a superb career, there is a chance of that being the case.
Under Moyes, the club has gone from strength to strength and despite a quiet January window, there are still three fronts to fight on this season.
Any of a top-four finish, Europa League glory or even an FA Cup victory would likely see the £67.5million valued star remain a Hammer for at least one more season.
Likely to take over the captain’s armband from Mr. West Ham himself Mark Noble in the summer, keep improving year on year and Rice could be an Iron for life.
