Declan Rice’s future with West Ham United could be uncertain now after they went on to sign a talented centre-back in Issa Diop from Ligue 1. According to latest reports, Rice and the Hammers’ board are currently in disagreement regarding a new contract. The player’s current deal is set to end next season, hence Bournemouth are mulling over making a bid for the 19-year-old defender.
Rice is a versatile player as he can fill in the role of a defensive midfielder as well. However, he is traditionally a centre back and that is where West Ham’s former manager David Moyes used him last season.
Rice graduated through West Ham’s youth system and was a mainstay for his side at the back last season, as he made 32 appearances in all competitions.
Bournemouth have slowly and steadily gone on to establish themselves as a regular Premier League side and they will be looking to continue their rise in English football under Eddie Howe. The manager is known to play an expansive brand of football and has nurtured quite a few talents over the years and Rice will certainly benefit from playing under the promising manager.
It is likely that in the upcoming season, Rice will be used more as a backup option for the Hammers, as their new manager Manuel Pellegrini tries to challenge the big boys of the Premier League. Apart from the youngster, they have Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna who are much more experienced and with the signing of Diop, Rice is sure to go down the pecking order.
The 19-year-old has shown huge potential and has already represented his national team Ireland, thrice. He is one of those modern centre-backs who are comfortable on the ball and doesn’t mind playing it out from the back. As we know, Bournemouth often do that and the signing of Rice does sound right, at least on paper.
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Rice is still 19 and will be looking to develop further as he tries to take his game a notch higher and for that, he will need regular playing opportunities. The Cherries are a bit short in the centre back department as they have Nathan Ake and Steve Cook as the only viable options and buying a defender will be a topmost priority for Howe this summer. Though it remains to be seen whether the East London outfit will let him leave as he did go on to show promising signs in his first season.
