Manchester City unlikely to move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice
Manchester City are “unlikely” to move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice in the summer, according to The Times.
The England midfielder has now turned down a third contract offer but the Hammers will not sell him in the summer [The Guardian].
City, one of the richest clubs in the world [Forbes], have prioritised signing Erling Haaland, the Borussia Dortmund striker. Unless they lose a midfielder, they are unlikely to spend big on Rice.
Likely to stay
The Hammers have set an asking price of more than £150 million for the midfielder.
Rice has two years left on his contract, worth about £70,000 a week, and the Hammers do have an option to extend his deal for another year.
So, they are in no hurry to sell him at the moment, but the club most likely will be open to letting him go in 2023 when they will still be able to command a big transfer fee.
Rice has been hailed as a “phenomenal” player by Karren Carney on the Football Daily podcast earlier this season, and he has been outstanding throughout the campaign.
The midfielder is not motivated by money, rather he is driven by ambition. He wants to play in the Champions League and wants to see the Hammers signing quality players.
The Times claim that one of the major reasons West Ham sought external investment this year is to attract better players.
The top-four is most likely out of reach for the Hammers, but they should aim to finish in the top six this season.
In other West Ham United news, ExWHUemployee has shared a big transfer update with David Moyes in a personal scouting mission
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