Former West Ham United defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed Newcastle United should ‘go all out’ for Declan Rice.
With the financially strong Saudi-led consortium taking over Newcastle, the question on everybody’s lips is who will be their first big-money singing.
A number of big names – such as Gareth Bale and Dele Alli – have already been rumoured, but Ferdinand has gone on the record to say who he would seek out if he was in charge of the Magpies.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: “Raheem Sterling is not playing regular, I’d go and ask him the question. I’d go and ask Declan Rice, ‘What’s going on?’”
He then added: “Them two would be the first two on my list. And I’d go all-out to go and get them.
“Then I’d be trying to get people like Jesse Lingard, who’s in and around the Man United squad.”
TIF Thoughts on Declan Rice and West Ham…
There’s no doubting if Rice was to join Newcastle it would be a statement signing. More recently, the English midfielder has been regularly linked with Manchester United for a reported fee in the region of £80 million.
Could Newcastle tempt Declan Rice away from West Ham?
Yes
No
Still, such is the sudden change in expectations on Tyneside, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Magpies were to heed Ferdinand’s advice and tried to sign a player of the West Ham man’s ilk.
Rice has certainly proved himself to be one of the country’s better players in recent years, with Barcelona legend Xavi singing the midfielder’s praises for his performances at Euro 2020.
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