West Ham set £120m asking price for Declan Rice after no Jan movement
West Ham United vice-captain Declan Rice helped save the Hammers’ bacon against Kidderminster in the FA Cup and his value is rising by the day.
According to 90min, the club now value him at a whopping £120million which would make him the most expensive British player ever if he is sold at that price.
David Moyes revealed before the Irons FA Cup tie at Aggborough on Saturday (5 February) that the chance had gone for club’s to get Rice on the cheap and this latest development certainly backs that up.
“I said in the summer that I thought Declan Rice was £100m,” West Ham’s manager said, as quoted by The Guardian. “That was the sales, that was cheap, that was your chance to get Declan Rice cheap. You can make your mind up what I’m talking about.
“He’s like a special edition, Declan Rice, there’s not many like him. He’s a special player and for me, he is probably the best midfield player in Europe at this present time.”
Irreplaceable?
Yesterday’s game against Kidderminster highlighted just how crucial the 23-year-old is to West Ham right now and to lose him, for any kind of money, would be a huge blow to the team.
The England international looked a cut above when he came on for Alex Kral at half-time and his stoppage-time goal showed his true class.
Without Rice in the side, the Hammers just look at a totally different side all together, like Champions League challengers to relegation strugglers.
One player cannot make that much of a difference. Rice will be craving the chance to shine in the Champions League next season and the club may have to accept his wishes and sell in the summer.
£120million however is a huge sum of money and if the recruitment is right, it could springboard the Hammers to becoming among the very best in the country and Moyes’ track record with signings suggests he knows exactly who he would want.
In other West Ham news, an ex-FIFA official has reacted to a controversial decision in yesterday’s FA Cup tie.