Manuel Pellegrini will have scared Hammers supporters to death when discussing the future of Declan Rice.
For just a couple of months after the defensive midfielder committed to a six years contract the boss is talking in terms of there always being a chance of his departure.
Sometimes things get lost in translation but it’s difficult to see how that could have happened when he was asked the question in his Everton pre-match presser today.
Rice has commanded such wide praise – and near adulation – that he is probably now being seen as a No 1 target on any of the big four’s list of targets.
And Pellegrini gave none of them any cause but to show their interest when he addressed the subject earlier after a media story appeared saying he is set to become a target for newly appointed Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Soljskaer.
Pellegrini really set the cat among the chickens when he declared: “It is just a matter of price. If it is a good deal for the club, player and he improves his career then we can do it. “But I don’t know nothing there.”
Really really disappointing, although not really surprising.
If we do sell, it has to be for serious serious money. He has a 6 year contract. Other clubs who sel players of this caliber get serious money. It can not be another Payet on the cheap.
I really hope we do not sell him, we should be building the club around him, but realistically if we are not going to spend this summer, we will not compete for Europe and if you were a player & had a chance to play in Europe i am sure most would leave. I hope im wrong.
I hoped the days of bringing players through like Ferdinand Lampard Defoe Cole Carrick etc etc had gone. Sounds like here we go again.
Had great hopes of this kid being the 2nd Bobby Moore. The word loyalty and gratitude spring to mind.
i think we will get 1 or 2 more seasons out of declan he is a bright lad and knows he is best off here for a while an emerging talent in a emerging team
Just got to keep the dogs ( agents ) away from him
And who knows in 2 years we may be heading in his direction
I’m a bit dissapointed with Pellegrinis comments on Rice to be honest. He could have killed speculation dead by just saying that rice has just signed a new six year contract at West Ham but he didn’t. He basically gave it to the speculation headline mongers on a plate by saying Rice is available at the right price. Of course pellegrini is being honest and telling it as it is as s realist. we all know that any player is available at the right price but as a fan I still don’t want to hear it. I don’t think any fan wants their manager discussing the sale of their best players with the media. Because Pellegrini should know how it works by now. The result is loads and loads of negative headlines as far as West Ham fans are concerned, surely to be followed by hoards of pundits discussing the likelihood of Rice being bought by a ‘bigger club’ than West Ham. Also when a manager says a player is available at the right price what kind of message does that send out to the player and his agent?
Totally agree with you clive