West Ham United transfer news as Newcastle United join race to sign Declan Rice
Newcastle have joined the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, according to Spanish journalist Matteo Moretto.
The Hammers are resigned to losing their key man this summer with the England international intent on playing Champions League football next season, and London neighbours Arsenal and Chelsea have been touted as the most interested parties.
According to The Times (28 February), Rice could cost around £80million in the summer transfer window and that could well alert super-rich Newcastle who reportedly joined the race, according to a report in Spain.
Reporting via Twitter on Wednesday afternoon (21 March) Moretto wrote: “Newcastle join the race for Declan Rice. They like it a lot and there already have been contact between the parties.
“Obviously, the competition is high: Manchester United and Arsenal are very aware of the West Ham midfielder.”
Command higher fee
It will certainly hurt a lot of West Ham fans that a club in a similar historic side to them can compete for one of the top stars around Europe when they cannot, and it will be even intolerable that Newcastle may possibly attract Rice to join their Premier League renaissance seeing as they could possibly be playing Champions League football next season.
West Ham United fans and the whole club can only dream of such a luxury and to see Rice join the Magpies this summer will be a huge sting.
That’s why the club must command a huge fee for the star midfielder this summer, because anything under £80m won’t be good enough, considering Rice’s star quality, potential and current ceiling.
The Magpies will have a warchest this summer, given their financial backing through Saudi Arabia investment fund PIF and that will give the East Londoners all the room necessary to demand a huge price for their captain.
If Jude Bellingham could be possibly leaving for £130m this summer, and Enzo Fernandez join Chelsea for a figure close to £100m then why can’t West Ham United demand a similar price for a play arguably just as good as those two footballers?
The Hammers must approach this Rice saga with their own future prospects in mind and recouping such hefty figures represent a huge step in the right direction, despite losing their best player.