Frank McAvennie tips Declan Rice for Real Madrid when inevitable West Ham United exit arrives
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…
West Ham star Declan Rice won’t move elsewhere in England even if he leaves the club and Manchester United have no chance says Frank McAvennie.
There have been rumblings from Old Trafford for months about wanting the England midfielder this summer, but with a £150million price tag and no Champions League football for the Red Devils that seems highly unlikely now.
And while ex-Irons striker McAvennie believes the 23-year-old could stay if the club show the right ambition, he has tipped him for a European giant such as Real Madrid when his inevitable departure comes.
“He’s a wonderful talent. I don’t think he’ll go anywhere in England to be honest with you,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“He wouldn’t even look out of place at Real Madrid, or somewhere like that.
“I don’t want him to go anywhere obviously, but Man United is another club that need him.
“But again, he wouldn’t go there unless they bought big players. They’re worse than West Ham at the moment.
“I just think if West Ham show ambition then Declan might stay at least for another year.
“Everyone knows he’s going to leave, at some point.
“You just want him to stay here and see what happens.”
The Hammers presumptive new permanent captain isn’t going to exit the club for the sake of it considering the bond he’s built up with the fans.
He turned down an eight-year contract offer recently as, according to The Sun, he felt it was David Sullivan posturing and it’s the Champions League he wants rather than money.
In that context, the red side of Manchester has no chance, but if he is going to go in a year’s time Irons fans would surely cope much better if they didn’t have to watch him playing for a Premier League rival, so McAvennie’s European prediction might not be such a bad idea.
In other West Ham news, one former Hammer has told a London rival they need to look to the Irons for one of their key players.
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