Paul Merson tips Declan Rice to stay at West Ham amid contract saga
Paul Merson believes that star West Ham midfielder Declan Rice will stay at the club despite his ongoing contract saga, claiming he could be a “legend”.
The England international was left out of David Moyes’ starting XI to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with Eintracht Frankfurt on the horizon in the Europa League semi-final.
However, winning the competition would see the Irons playing Champions League football next season which could put Declan Rice in a difficult situation having just rejected a third new contract from the Hammers.
Merson told Sky Sports via Manchester Evening News: “If that happens [winning the Europa League], it’s going to be hard to get out of the club, because then he’ll have to turn around and say ‘you’re not big enough for me’. If they don’t get into it, then he can turn around and say ‘I need Champions League football’.
“He could get that at West Ham, so it’s a bit of a catch-22. It’s a hard one, he could be a legend at West Ham. He plays every week, he plays for England, it’s a hard one.
“West Ham showed a lot of faith in this lad. He got let go by Chelsea as a young kid, and West Ham took him. Of course, he’s paid them back at the same time.
“When you look back at your career, it’s all about enjoying your football. You want to enjoy your football more than anything, and I think at the moment he enjoys his football there, he suits the way they play.
“If he goes to Man United, it’s going to be on his shoulders to turn Man United into a team to challenge Man City. That’s not going to happen. It’s an interesting one. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes, to be honest. I’m going to say he stays.”
Reconsider.
It doesn’t matter one bit if winning the competition will put Rice in a hard decision. He is the one making the tough call to leave the club therefore, he has to deal with the consequences should West Ham win the Europa League come the end of the season.
If anything, them winning the competition and earning Champions League football should be enough to see him consider his future.
Why wouldn’t he want to captain the Hammers in the best club competition in the world? Winning the Europa and playing UCL football all whilst the Irons hopefully continuously develop on and off the pitch would be enough to see him a club legend when he eventually does leave.
It seems inevitable that he will go but to leave during such a positive time at the club seems like a big mistake. He will still be the player he is in a few years with more than enough time to win as many trophies as he wants but not many fan bases will adore him the same way the Irons do.
In other West Ham news, Declan Rice has turned down his third new contract at club and Manchester United respond.
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