Kalvin Phillips. . . Rice’s replacement?
Ex West Ham legend Frank McAvennie has been talking about the potential candidates as Declan Rice’s replacement during this summers transfer window.
Inevitably he will leave a gaping hole in the side and McAvennie has urged the club to use current star Paqueta in his more preferred role while bringing in Manchester City ace Kalvin Phillips alongside him to add more balance and cutting edge to the side.
“Of course he will but they’ve got to have somebody beside Paqueta, like a [Kalvin] Phillips,” he told West Ham Zone.
“Soucek, no. Soucek’s a good player and he might come into his own when Declan is not there.
“Paqueta, I don’t get. He said ‘he’s now becoming the player we thought he was, it took him a while to adjust to the league’. Do me a favour, it’s a game of football. How does it take you a year to get adjusted to football?
“He’s from Brazil, they kick lumps out of you. They learn how to play football on the beach. My God, I’m sure he can play on the wonderful surface of the London Stadium.
“I just think he’s a wonderful talent.“
Phillips could leave the Etihad Stadium just a year after joining from Leeds in a £42m move, with his game time limited behind the midfield options of Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.
The problem with Macca’s view is that Phillips – for all his virtues is injury prone – although at his best would be a decent replacement.
He has been unable to make any real impact at the Etihad and would be under pressure with us having to inherit the huge Rice inheritance.