Pundit: Lewis Ferguson and Kalvin Phillips ‘ideal replacement’ for Declan Rice at West Ham United
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 should try to sign Kalvin Phillips or Lewis Ferguson as a replacement for Declan Rice this summer, according to Frank McAvennie.
The England international is set to leave the London Stadium at the end of the season amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, with a deal worth around £80m mooted despite West Ham intent on maximising how much they get for their captain.
But when asked about what business the Hammers could do this summer should they stay in the Premier League, he named two midfielders who would be ideal replacements for Rice in the summer although he admitted that one is unlikely to be done.
“I think Declan is off anyway, he’s gone,” he told West Ham Zone.
“I don’t think there is anyone that is his calibre that they can bring in. Soucek’s been off the boil because Declan has been off the ball.
“I always thought the boy Ferguson who was at Aberdeen, and then he went to Bologna, and now he’s got Inter Milan and Juventus fighting for him. I thought he would have been an ideal replacement for Declan. He’s that kind of player.
“It’s not going to happen now, but that’s the kind of player I would have gone for. Someone who just sits in there and controls the game.
“Ideal replacement would be the boy at Man City, Kalvin Phillips. He’d be ideal. I couldn’t understand why he (Southgate) would play the two of them, because they’re the same type of players.
“He’d be the ideal replacement, but we’ll have to wait and see.”