West Ham United captain Declan Rice can’t wait to play Bournemouth’s Ryan Fredericks
West Ham United captain Declan Rice is relishing the opportunity to play former teammate Ryan Fredericks when the Hammers face Bournemouth.
Fredericks spent four years with the Hammers and made 15 appearances in all competitions for the club last season and was a useful talent for David Moyes.
Rice admitted it will be a “funny one” between the pair on Monday evening and is expecting lots of banter between them throughout the 90 minutes.
“It’s going to be a funny one because obviously I’ve never played against Ryan in a match,” Rice said as quoted by the Newham Recorder.
“I’m sure it will be serious but after the game we’ll have a laugh. During the game there might be a bit of banter maybe. He’ll probably say a few words and try and get into my head or something.
“I’m just waiting for a foot race; I cannot wait to outpace Ryan. But in the ‘Fredericks channel’ no-one’s ever beaten him. You just can’t get past him, he’s too fast.
“If he shows you the line, you’ll never get past him and inside he’s just too quick. You’ve got to play around him. I am going to set up Cresswell to stop Ryan as well. I think we know how to stop him.”
Final season.
There’s a feeling around the London Stadium that this year might be Rice’s last in the claret and blue, as rumours of a move to Chelsea continue to rear their ugly head.
Rice has always been in the headlines linking himself with a move away from West Ham but this season feels like it may be his last.
It doesn’t look like the Hammers will get the European football that Rice craves again this season and this may be his way out of life in East London.
West Ham will undoubtedly do everything they can to keep Rice at the club but not even a bumper contract can delay the inevitability of the midfielder leaving.
Rice’s current contract doesn’t expire until 2025, giving the Irons a little bit of wriggle room and an upper hand in whatever summer transfer battle they face.
On Rice’s current form, it’s hard to see how West Ham copes without him, the club’s hierarchy needs to do everything in its power to keep him.