West Ham legend Tony Cottee has warned the Hammers must finish in the top four this season to keep Declan Rice – but he fears they will fall short.
The Hammers slapped a huge £150 million price tag on their club captain to keep him out of Chelsea and Manchester United's range in the transfer window. But Cottee, who scored 117 goals in 255 appearances for West Ham in the 1980s, believes this season will be Rice's last in claret and blue and he expects the England midfielder to leave the Taxpayers Stadium next summer.
He said: “West Ham have done well to keep Declan this season. It was important that they stamped their authority and put a ridiculous price tag on his head. If you don’t pay £120 million for Harry Kane, you’re not going to pay £150 million for Declan. But the further into his contract he is, the cheaper he will be.
.jpg?w=600)
