Declan Rice has been a standout player for David Moyes’ West Ham side this season and Paul Stewart, who scored a hat-trick for Man City during a 10-1 win against Huddersfield Town in 1987, has exclusively told This is Futbol that it appears likely City will sign Rice this summer.
Despite picking up an injury that saw him miss six games for West Ham, Rice is expected to start for England at the European Championships but it is still not clear who will play alongside him as Jordan Henderson faces a race against time to prove his fitness.
Who should Rice join?
Man City!
Man United!
Rice has been linked with a move away to both Manchester City and Manchester United recently and both clubs will be wanting to improve their centre midfield with the former set to wave goodbye to Fernandinho at the end of the season.
Whoever the 22-year old decides to join, if he does leave this summer, will be getting a great midfielder who will improve them instantly. Those are the thoughts of Stewart, who spoke exclusively to This is Futbol:
“I’m one of his admirers and I think whichever club gets him, he will improve them. It will likely be Man City and I think his game would improve because he would have better players around him.
“I think if either Manchester clubs got him then it would be worrying for other teams because that would be a massive plus for whichever club got him.”
During Rice’s time spent on the sidelines, West Ham managed to win three games but also lost three games which included a damaging one against Newcastle United.
Moyes admitted earlier in the season that he and the board would have no choice but to listen to any offers they receive for Rice this summer.