Barry Fry: West Ham fans would never forgive Declan Rice should he leave now
West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice continues to be linked with an exit this summer, with Manchester United keen.
According to Manchester Evening News, Rice asked Red Devils players about the club during England’s World Cup qualifiers in May.
M.E.N claims the West Ham star spoke specifically to Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw about the club and is keen on a move.
However, Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry does not see Rice leaving the London Stadium this summer, reckoning the fans would turn against him forever if he did.
“I can’t see David Moyes and the two David’s who own West Ham letting Rice go because he is a man mountain for them and he even played the opposition on his own sometimes last season,” Fry told Football FanCast.
“The West Ham fans would never forgive him, even if they got £100-150million for him, they’d never forgive him because he’s one of their own.”
You’ve been warned Rice
We love the England international and would be absolutely gutted to see him leave West Ham right now.
Fans will protest should GSB (Gold, Sullivan and Brady) make an attempt to sell our most valuable asset and player this summer, and we do not think they will dare think about it.
Having helped the Hammers qualify for next season’s Europa League, leaving is not likely to be on Rice’s mind at the moment, though.
Without any iota of doubt, he deserves to be playing Champions League football and challenging for silverware every season, and we can only hope that the board will try to match those ambitions.
The Irons need to improve on last term’s sixth-place finish next season if we want to hold on to Rice.
More big clubs are likely to be queuing up for his signature next summer, especially if he impresses at the World Cup, and we wouldn’t hold anything against him if he decides to leave by then.
Right now, we need him for next season, and just maybe West Ham will do enough to impress him to sign a new deal.
If not, the inevitable can only be delayed.
In other West Ham news, David Gold posts cryptic tweet after being insulted by Hammers fan.
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.