Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes that West Ham United’s main priority in the summer is keeping star man Declan Rice at the club.
Rice has been increasingly linked to a move away from the London Stadium each transfer window, with Premier League rivals circling the midfielder for some time.
Rice has been a mainstay at the heart of the Hammers midfield over the past two seasons and has more often than not worn the armband as club captain Mark Noble has seen his game time limited.
O’Rourke told GiveMeSport that West Ham should be set for another transfer window filled with Rice speculation.
He said: “Keeping Declan Rice is going to be a major priority for the club this summer, because I’m sure we will have another transfer window with speculation around Rice, where he might be playing his football next season and the price that West Ham might be demanding for him.”
TIF Thoughts on West Ham United making Rice a main priority…
David Moyes has previously said that £100million for Rice is cheap, and although this looks like an odd statement, he has proven he is priceless to West Ham.
With his expert performances at Euro 2020, praise has been forthcoming from all corners for Rice, as England manager Gareth Southgate has he had to rely on the West Ham man due to Jordan Henderson’s lack of fitness, and he certainly produced the goods for his nation.
It is so rare to find a player that is competent in almost all aspects of the field, especially coming through the academy of the club. And Paul Ince reckons that Rice has been one of the best midfielders in the league over the past year, so it is easy to see why keeping him in east London would be so important for the Hammers.