Paul Merson: Declan Rices faces messy future, predicts West Ham United exit behind the scenes
Paul Merson has insisted that Declan Rice potentially leaving West Ham United could get “Messy” and see his legend status go up the wall this summer.
The Sky Sports pundit admitted that he expects a move to Manchester United or Chelsea, but predicted that it could get sorted out behind the scenes to avoid expected anger.
Rice has rejected plenty of new contract offers at the London Stadium, and Merson believes that the time has come for Rice to move on and seal that blockbuster transfer.
Writing in his latest column for Sky Sports late on Tuesday evening [17 May], Merson predicted what the immediate future of the midfielder looks like.
“He’s going to Chelsea or Manchester United in my opinion,” he wrote. “United need that kind of player – but he can’t force a move.
“If you force a move – or the agent forces the move – you’re the one who has to go back and play if it doesn’t work out. He has to be careful as he’s a West Ham legend. And he will leave as one if he does it the right way.
“If it starts getting messy on the way to him leaving then everything he has done for the club will go up the wall. I don’t think he’s someone who will want that to happen.
“You don’t want to start getting booed as a West Ham legend. I think that will be sorted out behind the scenes.”
Bow out?
This is one of those deals that has been long in the waiting.
Every realistic West Ham fan has expected Rice to leave the London Stadium for quite some time now, and Merson believes it could happen as early as this summer.
If the England international wanted to stay and follow in the footsteps of Mark Noble, he would have put pen to paper on a new contract already, but that doesn’t look to be the case.
Whether it is expected or not, it is going to be a huge blow when he does move on.
GSB will need to allow David Moyes to pump that £100million+ back into the club though if that is how much this blockbuster deal could be worth – it could lead to three or four quality signings.
Our squad depth has not been good enough in all areas this season, and that has to be addressed.
We would like to think there would be money available without Rice being sacrificed, although at this moment in time, it looks like nothing will stop him from moving on.
In other West Ham United news, Martin Samuel has responded to the latest London Stadium developments dubbing it the “deal of the century”
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