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It looks like Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham United are going to face a battle to keep homegrown hero Declan Rice in the summer after The Sun revealed interest in the player from Manchester United.
What’s the word, then?
United are reportedly lining up the 20-year-old as part of a sensational swoop for multiple England players in the summer transfer window, the other targets being Jadon Sancho, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire.
Out of the four, Rice, who is reportedly valued at £40 million, and Sancho are said to be top of the list.
Having made his senior debut on the last day of the 2016/2017 season under Slaven Bilic, Rice has remained in the senior fold for the best part of two years with 64 appearances and two goals, racking up senior international appearances with the Republic of Ireland and now England.
Listen up Gold and Sullivan, no more feeder club
After a turbulent few years, Hammers co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan seem to have worked their way back into the fan base’s good books, helped by improvements to the London Stadium and better fortunes on the pitch in Pellegrini’s first campaign.
Selling Rice, especially to a Premier League rival like Man United – for a fee or just £40 million would tarnish their rising reputation.
Should, for example, the West Ham bigwigs sanction a £100 million move to Barcelona, they might be forgiven.
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However, selling him to a team so close to home is something the Claret & Blue Army simply wouldn’t stand for – it would be a suicidal move by Gold and Sullivan, ruining the trust that has been built up of late.
Rice’s absence would certainly be felt on the field in a huge way, but perhaps even more so off it in regard to his relationship with the supporters.
The Hammers faithful loved watching Rice make his Three Lions debut the international break and historic frustrations of their beloved West Ham being a feeder club have been forgotten by most.
It needs to stay that way.