(Photo by Adam Davy/Pool via Getty Images)
By Hughie Southon
It gives us no pleasure to hear Declan talking up the likes of Manchester United as was the case when he looked around Old Trafford before the match at the weekend.
He reminded us of the names that had served the club and spoke in the most glowing terms of the place. Whether this means he will eventually land up at Old Trafford who knows.
But as we reported around this time last year, or just after when we explained he was only likely to be around for another season, the emphasis seems to be pressing in on his departure.
He will cost the buying club a fortune and could even become the most expensive transfer fee ever in the Premier League.
Let’s face it if Jack Grealish is worth £100 million then Declan is almost certainly worth another £50 million but let’s get one thing straight.
In our view nobody should call Declan out should he decide to move on although we would sooner he went abroad rather than the northwest of England,
Declan has been a wonderful servant to this club and still is so should the worst happen nobody should see him as being a turncoat like Paul Ince and Rio Ferdinand before him.
Those guys will never be forgiven by Hammers fans for what became of them …Declan will forever be a hero.
You may say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one so let’s keep believing that a West Ham future is possible unlikely though it may seem
IMHO no real WHU fan will have any ill-will towards Declan when he leaves.
Rio was sold, he didn’t seek transfer and was, at the time, the most expensive player of his kind.
Unfortunately, Uncle ‘Arry didn’t spend the proceeds wisely……
Lets hope Moyes’ is more prudent with the Declan £millions…..?
The way I remember it was that Uncle arry got sacked not long after Rio was sold. Harry wanted to keep Rio at the club and was unhappy with him being sold. He kicked off about it and got sacked. Lampard senior also which led to lampard junior wanting out.
The only club in this country I could bear seeing Declan Rice play for is probably Manchester City. If he went to Real Madrid or Barcelona I’d probably be ok with it too.
I like many don’t want to see Rice leave but I think it is inevitable that he will to enable him to play at the highest level. He is hitting great form just in time for the World Cup unfortunately at club level the formation and tactics around him is not helping our cause to keep him.
My point here is why would he go to Moan Utd? they have a revolving door of managers and are massively underperforming by their standards, sadly West Ham are not taking advantage of this. Let’s hope the money made by Rice is well invested in our future. It’s just a pity we are talking about a fantastic talent leaving our club so he can get a better development opportunity elsewhere!
I would put DeFoe up there with Ince as well. He put in a transfer request as soon as we were relegated. I don’t know about Ferdinand’s situation when he left but the way he celebrated when he scored against us was telling. Anyway, Rice has been up front with us. He’s declined a new a few times and he basically told us he will stay another season and then he’s off to pastures new.
Rio was sold for big money, Harry objected that he wasn’t given the money for players, got sacked, Frank Lampard ditto and his son went pronto. I was livid but not with them. Ince was Billy big-time, no respect. Bottled taking an England pen though! Defoe made a hasty transfer request on relegation but has since been remorseful.