Whatever happens don’t blame Declan!

 (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