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Rice shirt swap sets rumours circulating again

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By Hughie Southon

Speculation that Declan Rice is on his way to Arsenal this summer intensified when the Hammers skipper asked Martin Odegaard to sign a Gooners shirt for him.

That immediately set the media rumour mill circulating again despite the fact that the Hammers have told Claret and Hugh there has still been no inquiry from the League leaders nor are they expecting any from anywhere until the season ends.

That won’t stop agents talking of course but it would be a surprise if Arsenal were the only club to show in interest in the defensive midfielder.

Rice was caught on camera embracing the Gooners skipper with the  footage also showing him getting him to sign a top for him.

Swapping shirts may be commonplace between players at full-time but this appears to be a bizarre request by Rice given that Arsenal played in their black away strip and Odegaard is signing a home shirt.

The pair remain dressed in their match kits prior to heading into their respective changing rooms at the London Stadium and converse while Rice holds out the attire for his opponent to sign.

But one supporter reacted by saying: ‘Why are people making a big deal of this. Rice is a big shirt collector and just wanted a signed shirt from the best attacking midfielder.’

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

1 comment

  • Clive says:

    Rice collects football shirts and boots. He has a room in his house where every inch is covered with shirts from all the top players he’s played against.

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