There is a strong possibility that Manchester City will table a bid for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice next year, according to The Athletic‘s Roshane Thomas.
The Citizens were reportedly interested in the England international last summer before deciding to keep Fernandinho for another season. However, Thomas claims that Pep Guardiola’s side could revisit the situation:
⚒️ Tomas Soucek’s form
⚒️ Declan Rice’s future
⚒️ Promising prospects in the academy
⚒️ West Ham’s best starting eleven
⚒️ Jarrod Bowen’s finishingWest Ham mailbag: your questions answered. #WHUFC https://t.co/8beYU8Eqfe
— Roshane Thomas (@RoshaneSport) October 15, 2021
Supporters on Twitter are rather sceptical about going after Rice, with some believing that there are other areas of the squad that should be strengthened instead:
Shouldn’t pay more than 35 million for him
— KDB_SZN (@Kdb_sznn) October 18, 2021
Rodri is better, then we have Lavia in the academy coming through, he not needed.
— Kieron (@kieroncc97) October 18, 2021
We need a striker and striker should be our main priority this summer
— Jack Grealish (@Gre22855119Jack) October 18, 2021
Rodri’s performance this season is great, and we have Lavia, also I doubt Ferna will leave anytime soon, he will play for another 1 or 2 season. Haaland should be our main priority
— Perdana Menteri ke-11 | 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@ridhuanz_) October 18, 2021
We already have Rodri
— Lungstar GP (@lungstar_nkosi) October 18, 2021
We don’t need him unless he’s willing to sit on the bench
— Tarun (@dalunTM_) October 17, 2021
Great player and I would be happy if he joined, but not sure we need such a high value reinforcement in that area. Rodri has come in to his own now and we have academy players to come through. Depth is OK there. Priority should be striker and left back really.
— Jack Parkes (@jparkes1991) October 17, 2021
City won’t be the only team looking to snap up Rice at the end of the season. Manchester United and Chelsea are also said to be keen on the 22-year-old.
However, the biggest obstacle to a move would be West Ham. The Hammers are reluctant to lose their talisman, and they are under no pressure to sell, with the player’s current deal expiring in 2024. A fee in excess of £90m may be required to secure his services.
