According to a recent report by The Sun, West Ham United are bracing themselves for a tough summer as the recent COVID-19 pandemic has severely dented their finances. This is so severe that the club are willing to sanction the sale of Declan Rice this summer with several top Premier League clubs circling the player. It is believed that David Moyes will be forced to sell him so that he has enough funds available for incoming transfers in this off-season (via The Sun).
A source close to the East London club said (via The Sun), “There are a lot of players who came in under the last manager that are on a lot of money. Good lads but they are little use to the team.
“It’s got to come to a head at some point and people will have to move on.
“But rebuilding the team is also going to require major funds and they may have to be generated from selling players too.”
Rice’s Rise To Prominence At The London Stadium
Rice has experienced another solid campaign at the London Stadium despite all of his team’s shortcomings in the English top-flight so far. He has been a rock at the heart of Moyes’ midfield after putting in a string of dominant displays for the Hammers this season.
The English midfield enforcer has been involved in 30 matches for the London outfit this term and has two assists to show for his efforts across multiple competitions. More importantly, he has averaged 3.0 tackles, 2.1 interceptions, 1.4 clearances and 1.2 dribbles in every 90 minutes of league football which highlights his growing influence at the centre of the West Ham midfield (stats via whoscored).
The 21-year-old has also earned seven senior caps for the England national team but is still waiting to net his first goal for his country. As long as Rice can maintain his high standards in the upcoming campaign, he will be nailed-on to be a part of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for next year’s UEFA European Championship which is now set to take place in the summer of 2021.
What Does The England International Offer On The Pitch?
Rice is a moderately-paced midfielder who can work his socks off to cover a lot of ground at the centre of the park. He loves to get stuck in with a few tackles so that he can win possession back for his team. The English prospect can also read the game well and provide adequate protection for the backline by taking a no-nonsense approach to defending inside his own half. He has been responsible for making some crucial last-ditch clearances and is also not afraid to put his body on the line to block a goal-bound shot from the opposition.
Can The Hammers Cope With Rice’s Potential Exit This Summer?
David Moyes does not have too many consistent and reliable midfielders like Rice in his squad. The only other midfield option he can depend upon to perform at a high level is the West Ham skipper, Mark Noble, who is edging closer towards the end of his playing career. Hence, the Hammers can expect to struggle a lot if they decide to cash in on Rice this summer.
At the same time, Moyes will be optimistic that he can use the money generated from the English midfielder’s potential sale to bring in a suitable replacement who can hit the ground running in the Premier League next season. However, there is no denying that West Ham would be taking a huge gamble if they part ways with Rice this summer as he has slowly but surely become an irreplaceable asset in the Hammers squad.
