West Ham stats stand tall as Manchester City motivation for Declan Rice outlined
West Ham captain Declan Rice has had his excellent credentials, and suitability, for Manchester City outlined in a feature on Sky Sports transfer centre.
The influential Hammers icon has been described as an “ideal foil” for Rodri in the engine room for Pep Guardiola’s side, who will be starting next season on the back of their historic treble success.
West Ham are primed for further bids for Rice with his future to be thrashed out in the coming weeks in which a landmark sale for the club will follow, but only on their terms.
The report from Peter Smith detailed the key areas in which Rice dominated last season, in a Hammers jersey, as well as how that would translate into City’s team, next to the talented Spanish player.
“Rice – top for recoveries, interceptions and distance carrying the ball in the Premier League last season – could take on the role with authority,” he said.
“He would be a first-class defensive midfield partner for Rodri, able to break up play but also deliver from deep on the ball.
“There is then Rice’s history as a centre-back and the flexibility he could offer Guardiola by dropping into the backline.
“It would be an exciting switch for Rice and Man City – and an ominous one for their rivals. With Mateo Kovacic a £30m replacement for the outgoing captain Ilkay Gundogan, a Rice-Rodri combination could just take the Man City engine room up a level again next season.”
Powerful
Rice and Rodri would certainly be a dynamic duo, a powerful force that would further strengthen the Premier League champions as if their squad required further depth.
The financial muscle and lure of Guardiola could yet tempt Rice, but powerful also describes the position of West Ham in this transfer saga.
Arsenal are the other serious contenders for his signature and unless something unexpected happens, it will be a two-horse race.
Club chiefs appear to be on top of the situation with the valuation and terms loosely outlined already if consensus is to be reached. That will happen sooner rather than later as both clubs negotiate to gain an edge in the contest to land the England player.
Personally, Rice will decide on where he wants to play next season and that will sway matters whether or not that club are the first, or second, to have a bid accepted by the Hammers.
In other West Ham news, one player has sealed a London Stadium loan exit for next season, already.