West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice was one of the most sought after players in the Premier League last summer and the Hammers are expecting the same buzz next year as well.
Clubs like Man City, Chelsea and Man United are all keeping tabs on the defensive midfielder and all of them are expected to make a move for him at the end of the season.
So far it was expected to be a three-horse race for Rice but if Pep Guardiola’s recent comments are anything to go by then Man City might no longer be interested in the West Ham United man.
City currently have Rodri as their main defensive midfielder and in a recent interview, Guardiola seemed to be really content with the 25-year-old’s performances.
“The season is so long, 11 months so there are high and lows,” he said, as quoted by MEN.
“What is important to be a holding midfield is to be always stable: 7, 8, 7, 8. It’s not nice to have a big 10 performance and then a 2 or 3. Maybe wingers or strikers can do it but for a holding midfielder it’s not good.
“I think now he’s so stable, he’s always paying attention and he’s realising what we are looking for because sometimes you need time to understand what we are looking for.
“We are more than satisfied. We knew it when we went to him at Atletico, he’s growing and hopefully he can be a better player. It depends on him and if he opens his mind and understands what he has to do, because he still has the margin to be a better player and hopefully we can help him.”
Man City no longer want Declan Rice?
West Ham United managed to hold onto Declan Rice beyond the summer but we don’t think Moyes can convince him to stay for one more season.
The 22-year-old wants to challenge for titles so his next logical step will be to join a top-six club.
This is likely to be Declan Rice’s last season with West Ham. Chelsea, Man Utd & Man City have been linked. West Ham believe they hold all the cards when it comes to his future, however, they are aware of Rice’s ambitions to win trophies and play Champions League. [The Athletic] pic.twitter.com/I2k0QAyCsR
— Football Talk (@Football_TaIk) October 19, 2021
His current market value is £63 million and since his deal with the Hammers expires in 2024, the interested clubs will have to shell out around £80-90 million to bring him out of the London Stadium.
And if the Man City boss is truly satisfied with Rodri’s performances then it makes no sense for him to spend so much money on yet another defensive midfield.
If our assumption is correct then this will be a massive boost for Chelsea and Manchester United, both of whom are badly in need of a world-class defensive midfielder.
United’s Fred and McTominay have been managing the said area but they are just not cut for that job which is why Solskjaer is desperate to land Declan Rice as soon as possible.
Chelsea, on the other hand, are looking at Rice as the long-term successor to N’Golo Kante and this is not the first time they have laid their eyes on him.
We still have to wait and see what Manchester City’s ultimate strategy is but since Guardiola’s first priority is to sign a centre-forward, we are sure that Declan Rice does not rank high on his wishlist.
