Stuart Pearce crushes West Ham United exit idea for Declan Rice live on talkSPORT
There is “not a chance” that Declan Rice is leaving West Ham because it would be a “waste of time” according to former Hammers coach Stuart Pearce.
The chat around a hugely expensive move for the Irons star has died down since David Moyes successfully communicated far and wide that he had a £150million price tag, although it never goes away entirely.
But speaking live on talkSPORT on Friday (8 July) the ex-West Ham player and staff member Pearce, who left at the end of the 2021/22 season, shut it down in no uncertain terms on the grounds that the manager is going to build the team around the “crucial” 23-year-old.
In a clip posted to the talkSPORT Twitter account on Friday (8 July) host Natalie Sawyer asked: “Declan Rice, could he leave this summer?”
“No. No chance,” was Pearce’s immediate response.
When asked whether the size of the offer mattered he went on: “No. It’s irrelevant.
“You’re talking [Kalvin] Phillips going at £45million. You’re talking [Raheem] Sterling going at £45million. What are West Ham going to do with £45-50million? It’s a waste of time, absolute waste of time.
“Dave’s been adamant, the board have been adamant at West Ham that Declan’s going nowhere and Dave’s going to build a team round him. He’s so crucial. I’ve loved the last two years working with the kid.”
After highlighting his importance for England he finished: “Not a chance he’s leaving.”
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Whether he’s worth £50million like the other Three Lions stars who are moving this summer, or £150million at the London Stadium, it is immaterial.
He is priceless to what the Hammers do, and to the Hammers fans, so if the club have any hopes of making the step up in the upcoming season he needs to be at the centre of it.
With club legend Mark Noble now retired, the England star will take on the armband full-time and will have more responsibility than ever.
There remain questions over whether the manager and the board can successfully match the ambitions of the player, but transfer business is slowly getting done and there is room for some tentative optimism over the long-term future of Rice.
The empty January transfer window is looking further and further away after the club wrapped up a third deal on the summer with the lightning quick acquisition of Flynn Downes from Swansea, who looks like he could be a complete steal.
A boyhood West Ham fan arriving to potentially slot in next to Rice in the midfield could be the difference, and if the remaining targets arrive before the new season kicks off there is reason to hope for success on the field, and future commitment off it.