Frank McAvennie suggests double signing could keep Declan Rice at West Ham
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie has suggested that signing Jesse Lingard and Ross Barkley may convince Declan Rice to stay at West Ham.
Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley has been linked with a move to the London Stadium [Daily Mail] after an unsuccessful loan at Aston Villa during the 2020/21 campaign, while Manchester United’s Lingard is wanted on a permanent deal after scoring nine times for West Ham last season.
Ex-Irons striker McAvennie has urged the club to sign both players this summer.
He told West Ham Zone: “I’d like to see them go out and buy the two of them, Barkley and Lingard. I would enjoy that.
“That’s the kind of statement that Declan Rice will want to see. That’s the kind of statement that big players say ‘woah, I’ll keep my boots at West Ham.”
Not the statement required
Signing Lingard would be a big boost for us and our bid to keep hold of Rice for as long as possible, such is their well-documented friendship, but we don’t think a deal for Barkley would do much to keep him from the clutches of clubs.
Barkley was a good player in his early Everton days but he has struggled immensely since moving to Chelsea, and he failed to deliver on his early-season promise at Aston Villa.
Signing him would not be a statement at all – he’s bottom-half fodder these days.
Being more ambitious and signing hungrier players would be more enticing to Rice, though we don’t expect to see him leave the club any time soon anyway.
Let’s get Lingard in on a permanent deal but leave Barkley for others below us in the table.
He wouldn’t add much to our team as we look to make a statement of our own in the Europa League next season.
In other West Ham news, Laura Woods gushes about 2020/21 Irons star.
Be sure to follow West Ham Zone on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Hammers and more exclusive interviews with Frank McAvennie.