talkSPORT host ridicules Declan Rice ‘not too good’ for West Ham United claim live on air
Andy Goldstein rubbished suggestions that Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was “not too good” for West Ham in a debate live on talkSPORT.
Rice swapped West Ham for London rivals Arsenal in a £105million transfer in July after helping the Hammers to Europa Conference League success the previous month.
A caller on Friday’s ‘The Social’ show (6 October, 16:25) argued that Rice could not consider himself too good for West Ham.
However, host Goldstein replied with “Oh, come on”, before adding: “Sometimes, a player is such a good player that he needs to test himself at a higher level, which is what Declan Rice has done.”
Line drawn
West Ham supporters will no doubt be bored of this ‘too good’ debate now, three months on from fan favourite Rice’s departure.
The England international entered the final year of his contract and that swayed the club’s decision to find a buyer in the summer window.
Ultimately, enough water has already passed under the bridge for Hammers fans to have drawn a line under the whole saga.
The nine-figure fee brought in for Rice has helped to build a squad that is even stronger than the one that triumphed on the continent last season.
Rice has himself settled in well at Emirates Stadium, and while it is still tough seeing him in a rival club’s shirt, his decision must be respected.
This is one of those rare instances in which all three parties – the buying club, the selling club and the player – have benefited from a transfer.
In other West Ham news, Arsenal are said to hold an interest in another Hammers player ahead of the January transfer window.