Former West Ham United goalkeeper David James believes Declan Rice could leave the club as early as January.
The Hammers captain has been at the centre of much transfer talk recently after relaying to the press his desire to play in the Champions League. Rice has been on the radar of most of the Premier League’s elite for some time, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool heavily linked with the England international.
The 23-year-old has been a key figure for England at the World Cup in Qatar, starting in all three group games against Iran, USA and Wales ahead of Sunday night’s last 16 tie against Senegal. When asked if playing in the World Cup had added to his hunger to be playing in the biggest competitions domestically, Rice responded: “Yeah, 100%.
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“I think for the last two or three years, I’ve been saying that. I’ve been playing consistently well for club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here [with England] who are playing in the Champions League and winning big trophies.
“You only get one career and at the end of your career you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in. I’m really ambitious and I really want to do that.”
West Ham have finished sixth and seventh in the Premier League in the past two seasons respectively, but crossing over the line into the top four seems further out of reach this term after a disappointing start to the 2022/23 campaign. The Hammers are currently 16 th in the table after picking up just 14 points from 15 games, leaving them 15 points behind in the race for a Champions League spot.
But for Rice, playing in Europe’s biggest club competition could come sooner rather than later. As mentioned, a host of top clubs have been heavily linked with the midfielder and former England goalkeeper James believes West Ham will be prepared for offers coming in in January.
James told GGRECON : “I don’t think West Ham would stand in his way if the opportunity arrives for him to join a Champions League competing team. I’d like to think that he wouldn’t want to force himself out of West Ham. I believe it would come down to an open and realistic conversation.
“Theoretically, he could leave in January depending on how amazing a World Cup he has. If he’s to leave, then it has to be for market value. I can’t see West Ham selling him for less at all.
“When you have that talent, the idea of him joining somebody like Liverpool and playing in the Champions League means that you can look back at your career knowing that you’ve challenged for, and won, major trophies.
“The fan in me wants him to stay at West Ham for the rest of his career. The players side of me believes you need to maximise everything you can get from the game.”
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