OPINION
Losing star midfielder Declan Rice is a nightmare not worth thinking about for West Ham fans – but with Tottenham said to be sniffing around they need to come up with a contingency plan in case the worst does happen.
The Express report that the Irons’ London rivals are keen on snapping up the young talent after his starring role for the east Londoners this season, establishing himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
Finding someone to fill the void would be a task easier said than done, with a lack of midfield enforcers floating around the division, and as proven so many times, foreign imports can often be hit or miss.
Snapping someone up with proven Premier League experience would be a huge boost to filling Rice’s boots and with Tottenham in the hunt, Manuel Pellegrini’s men must demand a cash-plus-player swap deal for the forgotten Victor Wanyama in north London.
The Kenyan is on a very reasonable £26,000-a-week (source: Spotrac) with Spurs and seems to be on the Hammers’ radar already, with the reputable Football Insider claiming that the club were readying a winter move for the 27-year-old in the January transfer window.
That move might not have come off but were Spurs to move for Rice something must be put into a deal to see the international ace move in the opposite direction, simply to fill the gap and soften the huge blow of losing their promising ace.
Money and Wanyama might be enough to tempt West Ham into selling up and would make sure the Irons are prepared for his departure – no matter how tough it might be to take.