West Ham United begin Declan Rice replacement hunt as £13m Joan Gonzalez news emerges
Most West Ham United fans are completely aware that Declan Rice’s future lies away from the London Stadium, with the 23-year-old destined to play in the Champions League.
Rice’s stock will have risen further after an almost impeccable display against France in England’s narrow 2-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat, a match that many thought Gareth Southgate’s side should’ve won.
The West Ham captain got the best of Real Madrid sensation Aurélien Tchouaméni and showed he deserves to be playing with Europe’s best week in and week out. Six Foot Two (3 December) suggest the Hammers are ready to break the bank to keep the England international at the club.
However, the Guardian’s Fabrizio Romano has revealed (via Twitter, 1 December) that there’s now an expectation for the 23-year-old to leave the club in 2023. With his future looking uncertain, the Irons must start assessing their midfield options.
If Rice does depart, Tomas Soucek and Flynn Downes would represent Moyes’ first-choice options when it comes to defensive midfield. Clearly, that’s not the level required to take the Hammers up the Premier League table.
The club simply have to add to their midfield options, with potentially a younger player and a more experienced head coming through the door at the London Stadium, and after the latest news to come out of Italy, the hunt could’ve already begun.
Gazzetta Dello Sport suggest (13 December) the Hammers are in the hunt the Lecce’s “box to box” midfielder, Joan Gonzalez. It’s understood the 20-year-old would be available for £13million and that the Serie A would be happy for the youngster to depart.
A player like Gonzalez would add more depth to West Ham’s midfield, but also provide the club with an asset for the future, who could potentially replace Rice.
The England international will be impossible to replace for the Hammers, but it’s positive to see the club actively searching for potential midfield options, in case the midfielder departs in either of the next two transfer windows.