You know it’s the international break when stories linking Manchester United with Declan Rice start surfacing almost every day with denials from the player quickly following.
Virtually every media outlet has been playing copycat on the same story day in day out given that the player has repeated probably a dozen times he’s going nowhere.
However, as a result of the constant rumours and denials we went to our top source at the club in a bid to sort the issue out once and for all from their perspective.
And this afternoon we were told categorically that at no stage since the speculation started has there been either an inquiry or a bid.
We were told a few minutes ago by e mail in response to the straightforward question: ‘Have there been any bids or inquiries’ that there had never been an approach from United at either level.
We were told by e mail:”Obviously we are aware of all that’s been said and written but the honest answer is that there has been nothing from Manchester United at all or anywhere else.
“There were murmurings among agents back in the summer but it was never going anywhere. It won’t now either because he’s not for sale, is under contract for five years and we refuse to put a valuation on him for those reasons.”
I think most Hammers fans realise that if Rice is truly a top level player he will not be at the club very long. That’s just the result of the wonderful PL monster which has been created. He seems to be going through a slightly uncertain phase at present, but if that turns out to be only a blip he will be off before too long. The key thing for the club is to accept that & maximise the fee he goes for. But the crucial thing is successfully replacing him. Leicester have lost Mahrez, Kante & Maguire in the last few seasons, but are now challenging the big boys again because (apart from having money coming out their ears) they have recruited well. We have to copy that model.
If we are offered £100m bite their arm off. Dec is amazing and can get so much better but £100m can transform the team.
Hello the club have just made their position clear. Must be me. never going to be quote a top level club, with that attitude. You dont sell your best players because you dont believe yre top level. You keep them and make sure you become top level.
umm, why would he not be at the club very long when he goes to great lengths to state that it’s where he wants to be ? and why would anyone the he would want to go to man utd apart from the manchester evening echo ? very weird ?
These days, everyone has a value – that’s how it is.
Seen it with players leaving the so-called big clubs for mega-bucks.
If United or anyone else offers £100 mil – take it, as long as the money goes towards strengthening the team !!
We’ll never be a top club – don’t spend nearly enough on the team and always have too many sub-standard players in our squad, as Oxford United discovered !!