Rice future -there’s no cause for a panic up

Love him as we do, the numerous Declan Rice scenarios  have brought a weariness as his name continues to hit the  headlines.

Yes, ok, I know CandH have contributed to it but being totally honest about that during a very slow couple of news weeks, given the international break, I’m afraid it was one of life’s inevitabilities here and elsewhere.

But today Manuel Pellegrini took the discussion in a more worrying direction when discussing his future during the pre-Everton match presser.

In answer to a direct question he said: “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.”

Quite what “But I don’t know nothing there” means leaves me clueless although I assume he was attempting to say he was unaware whether there was any current interest or inquiries.

My conversations with various London Stadium sources suggest that is certainly not the case but, like Pellegrini, the board will be aware that inquiries and possible bids won’t be far away by which I mean a year or two.

However, I would stake my house on him not being sold this summer or the winter of the 2019/20 season and I would be extremely confident that he will be here for another season after that.

Why? Because at 20 years of age he already looks a £50 million player and that is only going to appreciate over the 20/21 season to the point where he could easily be worth £75 million.

The club are not going to do a quick sale when those sort of numbers are involved and the reality could be that the young man may even remain a Hammer if we move to the next level under Pellegrini.

Pelle didn’t have to answer that question today when it would have been just as easy to explain that such decisions were for another time.

Declan has no buy out clauses or any other clause in his deal and he will be up for another hefty pay increase 12 months down the line so there’s no need for over anxiety at this stage.

He’s West Ham through and through but beyond that, unlike some we know, he will not be agitating and causing issues should offers emerge which would see others others kicking their toys out the pram.

This is no time for a panic up but the words uttered would have been best left unsaid!

COYI