Harry Redknapp believes that it is far from a foregone conclusion that Declan Rice will leave West Ham for Arsenal or Manchester City this summer.
Rice is the subject of a bidding war between the Premier League ’s top two sides from last season. The England midfielder appears likely to leave east London in order to play Champions League football and challenge for more silverware, having helped the Hammers win the Europa Conference League.
Arsenal have seen two bids rejected by West Ham so far, while it is understood that City’s opening offer worth £90million – £80m up front, plus £10m in add-ons – has also been pushed back across the table. The Hammers value Rice at £100m and are currently refusing to budge from that price tag.
The question on most football fans’ lips recently has simply been which club will land Rice in the coming weeks. But Redknapp reckons there is a third option: Rice stays with West Ham for another season and the club aim to push on by strengthening in the transfer market.
“West Ham are a big club with up to 65,000 fans in the stadium. I can see a future for him with the club,” he told Claret and Hugh. “If the board were to offer him up to £250k a week and brought in three or four top players that may tempt him to stay where he is despite him wanting Champions League football.
“The Hammers are in Europe and he won his first medal with us last season. I would really love to see the club push to keep him.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Where will Declan Rice end up this summer? Comment below.
“In reality it looks as though he will go to Arsenal as things stand and they do begin to look a very good team to whom he would be a big help.
“I certainly see them as being the main challengers to Man City next season and beyond. They are a young and exciting team but I would have thought he would want to speak with Man City.
“However, at the end of it all I want the Hammers to have a right go at keeping him. We are a big club and he could do far worse than to stay where he is.”
Rice is understood to prefer a move to Arsenal over City. He grew up in Kingston, in the south west of London and has played for West Ham since the age of 14. He became a father last year and there are suggestions he doesn’t want to uproot his family by moving to Manchester.
The 24-year-old is under contract with West Ham until June 2024, but the club are in a strong position to negotiate over price because they have the option of a further year. He has previously rejected the offer of a lucrative contract extension with the Hammers.
