Jeff Stelling shares Declan Rice Arsenal verdict as West Ham United exit talk emerges
Jeff Stelling believes Declan Rice’s exit from West Ham United is now a “given” as talk over his exit from the London Stadium goes into overdrive.
According to Sky Sports Germany (24 May), Arsenal have tabled a £69.6m bid for Rice ahead of the summer window.
Talking live on Sky Sports ahead of West Ham’s clash against Leicester City, Stelling feels the Gunners will have to fork out West Ham’s asking price.
“West Ham are not going to keep hold of him are they,” said Stelling (live on Sky Sports, 28 May).
“That’s a given. If Arsenal are going to go to the next level and match Manchester City, do they just have to fork out the asking price?”
Final throes
We are now in the final throes of Rice’s career at the London Stadium. The midfielder has been a remarkable servant to the Hammers and will go down as one of the greatest to ever wear the claret and blue shirt.
He deserves his shot at a higher level and no one can begrudge Rice moving on in the summer. From West Ham’s perspective, it’s essential that they land the right fee for the England star. He’s almost invaluable to how the Hammers play under David Moyes.
Realistically, David Sullivan is going to be looking for north of £100million, and you can’t really blame him. Rice is one of the best box-to-box midfielders on the planet and in today’s market, a 24-year-old England international who has proven himself against the best is worth all of that.
Let’s hope Rice’s career at West Ham ends with a piece of silverware when the Irons travel to Prague for their Conference League final against Fiorentina.