Sam Allardyce reveals the key card Man City hold in pursuit of West Ham ace Declan Rice
Sam Allardyce has tipped Manchester City to win the race to land Declan Rice with Kalvin Phillips moving to West Ham in the opposite direction.
Speaking on the ‘No Tippy Tippy Football Podcast’, former Hammers boss thinks current incumbent David Moyes will be swayed by getting a solid replacement in return.
Rice has been linked with several of elite clubs already this summer, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Premier League champions City all credited with an interest.
“Man City, somebody will go back the other way,” Allardye said on the podcast in quotes reported by Leeds Live.
“If I know Moysey, there would have to be a player in the deal for him and that would mean it would be easier for the club who is buying him because they wouldn’t have to pay David Sullivan’s (asking price).
“It would be over £100million in total but it would be so much under that player and that player’s value would take that deal over £100million and David would get somebody he really needed.”
Over to you Kalvin
It really is quite difficult to know where Declan Rice’s landing spot will be. All that seems certain is that the skipper is leaving West Ham.
Arsenal have reportedly had two bids rejected (Sky Sports), while Man United are said to have re-entered the fray by suggesting a swap deal involving Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay (The Telegraph).
The one that may intrigue Moyes and West Ham most, though, is the idea of selling to City if they can get fellow England star Phillips in return.
It was only a year ago that Phillips made the switch to the Etihad Stadium from Leeds United in a £45million deal, but – while being part of a treble-winning squad – it has not been the happiest of times for Phillips who has struggled to break into the first team.
England boss Gareth Southgate has reportedly told Phillips he can ill-afford another year sat on the sidelines ahead of Euro 2024.
So, there is a big decision to be made…over to you Kalvin.