Steve Nicol says Declan Rice needs to leave West Ham
Declan Rice must leave West Ham this summer to further his career, according to for Liverpool defender and ESPN pundit Steve Nicol.
The Hammers skipper has been linked with a nine-figure move away from the London Stadium this summer, with top Premier League clubs showing an interest in taking him after a host of fantastic performances.
Nicol, who was speaking to ESPN FC, believes Rice ‘needs to go’ to further his career and believes that Manchester United should make him their number one priority.
“I would think that Declan Rice, in my opinion, if I’m Manchester United, should be the next player they sign,” he said. “100 percent.
“You hear all this talk about they’re trying to get Haaland and all these forwards. There’s a reason we talk about the middle of the park being the engine room, because everything stems from it. Whether it’s going forward or whether it’s defending.
“If there’s one man in the Premier League right now who’s not playing at one of the so-called big clubs who influences big time in every single game, whether it’s relegation fodder like Norwich or the top teams like Man City or Liverpool, this guy makes a difference.
“For me Tchouameni is not quite the finished article that Declan Rice is, because Declan Rice right now needs to go and further his career.”
Improves everyone
West Ham want to do everything they can to keep hold of Rice this summer, obviously, because he’s their best player by a country mile.
But the problem they face is the fact that he could improve essentially every single team in the division right now, and they have the money to make a serious move for the 23-year-old.
Rice has made it clear this season that Champions League football is a priority for him and winning trophies is very important, so an exit seems inevitable sooner or later.
But he currently has two years on his contract remaining, plus the option of another year, and West Ham are progressing year on year under David Moyes so maybe he can afford to wait another season.
It may not be up to him if the Hammers stand firm on their valuation and nobody makes a substantial offer, but it’s clear that for Rice to become the player he can it will have to happen away from West Ham.
In other West Ham news, ‘Knock on the door’ – Sky Sports pundit thinks West Ham could sign ‘serious baller’ this summer