Where is Declan’s eventual replacement?

By Dave Langton

Where’s the Declan Rice replacement?

It isn’t a nice thing to talk about as a West Ham fan, of course. The England international has been at the centre of a transfer saga in pretty much every season that he has been at the football club.

We know that an agreement has been struck that will see the club possibly entertaining bids for Declan move next summer but where’s the replacement?

The Hammers spent so much time chasing their tail on Jesse Lingard, only to see him move to Nottingham Forest, and he isn’t even a player who could play in the same position as Declan.

Amadou Onana was pursued. He went to Everton. Kalvin Phillips was pursued. He went to Manchester City. James Ward-Prowse was allegedly a target. He remains at Southampton.

The fact of the matter is that, if and when Declan does go, he will fetch a huge fee. It may not be quite as high as the £150m that was being quoted when the Hammers were pushing for the Champions League, particularly if this dismal start to the season continues, but the Irons can expect to receive a minimum of around £70m for the Englishman.

But when everyone knows you’ve got money, prices tend to inflate.

There’s an argument that we should have seen the Irons bringing in Declan’s replacement in the first few weeks of this transfer window. Going out and getting the next player in line through the door is just what big clubs do.

Instead, we’re left with Flynn Downes as the only backup to Rice and Tomas Soucek, who is another who may leave next summer.

Yes, there is interest in Club Brugge’s Hans Vanaken but he is both an attacking midfielder and unproven at the top level.

With just over a week left of the window let’s hope we are shocked out of our lives by a seriously quality midfielder,