Pundit: ‘Matter of time’ before Declan Rice leaves West Ham United amid Liverpool transfer speculation
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 believes it’s a “matter of time” before Declan Rice leaves West Ham after recent speculation linking him with a move away.
The skipper has been linked with a move away for several years, but Chelsea have reportedly opened talks over a move in the summer of 2023 while Liverpool have also joined the race to do a deal.
And despite his huge influence and importance to the team, McAvennie believes Rice is destined for the exit door at the London Stadium but that he will go with everyone’s blessing when he does leave because of everything he’s done for the club.
“Huge loss,” he told West Ham Zone. “I mean, he’s the man. He’s the main guy.
“We’re talking about when they weren’t playing well and Declan was awful and he was the one who needed to drive them through. It’s picked up now.
“Something wasn’t right, they were losing games and they weren’t clicking. Declan wasn’t clicking with Soucek and it was just, everybody on the park wasn’t clicking. But Declan is the man.
“He goes, they’ll get somebody else, that’s not a problem. Football and West Ham will go on and they’ll get another hero. But I think 60,000 fans and the millions around the world know that he’s going to leave. It’s just a matter of time.
“So just enjoy it as much as we can, I think that’s all we can say. Because they’re not going to buy the players that I know he would want, so he’s going to go. Money talks.
“If West Ham get the money, say £100m, and spend it on players, then job done. Good luck to him. He’s done well for West Ham. He’d go with my blessing anyway.”