Declan Rice England performance gets West Ham ‘£120million’ blast from ex-Premier League player
Declan Rice’s performance for England on Friday night got West Ham mocked for their valuation of him by former Sheffield United midfielder Curtis Woodhouse.
The Irons captain, just like most of Gareth Southgate’s side, have a distinct off night as they laboured to a goalless draw with the USA in Qatar (25 November).
And with transfer speculation following the 23-year-old everywhere he goes over the past year, the massive price tag bestowed on him by the club didn’t look value for money according to ex-Birmingham City man Woodhouse.
Writing on his personal Twitter account after the final whistle on Friday night (25 November) Woodhouse said: “West Ham want £120 million for Declan Rice, you would want him to pass forward every now and again for that money”.
Slump
Rice would likely be the first to admit he wasn’t worth the big numbers that have routinely been thrown around for him based on the USA game.
Jude Bellingham started alongside him and was substituted after a poor outing of his own, with the Dortmund star’s own price tag even surpassing the West Ham man of late, so it obviously wasn’t an issue unique to Rice.
Whether it was Southgate’s tactics or strong play from the opposition, there was nothing of the attacking ease that England demonstrated in the 6-2 win over Iran in their opener on Monday (21 November).
On the balance of his whole career in east London Rice is worth every penny to the club’s fans however, and if he is to leave in the summer it will certainly be a big blow.
The strengthening of the squad prior to the season had raised hopes that the Hammers were ready to take the next step and threaten the Champions League places in earnest this year, potentially convincing the captain to stay on.
But amid bad luck and disjointed form that hasn’t happened, with Rice himself not hitting the heights of last year on a regular basis, so barring a major upturn in form after the World Cup, which is arguably still possible considering the congestion in the Premier League, the midfielder could go after the season.