Trevor Sinclair says West Ham United could sell Jarrod Bowen to keep Declan Rice
Trevor Sinclair says West Ham could consider selling Jarrod Bowen this summer to be able to get more money to strengthen the side and keep Declan Rice.
The Hammers were knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage following a 1-0 defeat in Germany against Frankfurt, leaving them fighting for European football next season to keep star man Rice.
But speaking to the talkSPORT breakfast show [May 6, 8:08am], Sinclair admitted that while the club hold all the cards on his future he believes Rice should be playing European football, but said the club could do some business to try and keep him for a bit longer.
“It’s up to West Ham because he’s got three years left on his contract,” he said.
“I don’t think he’ll do a Dmitri Payet and down tools and throw his toys out of the pram. He’s too professional for that. He’s English, he’s at home. I don’t think he would do that. I think he’s too good a man to do that.
“So what I would say is that Declan Rice is the best in his position, or one of the best in his position, and he’s [23] years old. I think he should be playing European football.
“The club have underachieved a little bit by not making Europe and getting to the Europa final. I think he needs to be playing top level, but they might be able to keep him.
“If they want to do a little bit of business, I was looking at Jarrod Bowen’s numbers earlier and Sam was saying if you put his numbers next to some of the top guys in the league they’re right up there.
“Maybe Jarrod Bowen is the one that could go and they could keep Declan Rice. I could see it going both ways but Declan’s been amazing.”
No chance
Rice will leave West Ham sooner or later, so selling another one of the star assets at the club to be able to keep hold of him when they hold all the cards anyway makes little sense.
Bowen has been exceptional this season, and has been described as ‘excellent’ by Ally McCoist. His numbers have been the reason why West Ham have got so far this season and selling him would be a huge mistake.
The club have got to find a way to strengthen the squad without losing key players in the summer, otherwise it will be a sideways step at best and that won’t help them in the long run.
The best way to keep Rice is to become one of the clubs that he wants to join, who are playing European football regularly in the Champions League and challenging for trophies.
That needs significant investment, not selling top players. Sinclair has got this one totally wrong.
In other West Ham news, TalkSPORT pundit questions future of senior West Ham ace after major incident in loss v Frankfurt
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