Former West Ham United striker Tony Cottee believes the only way captain Declan Rice will stay at the club beyond this season is if David Moyes’ side finish in the top four of the Premier League this term.
Cottee, who scored 115 league goals for the club across two spells for the Hammers between 1982 to 1988 and 1994 to 1996, has been speaking about the future of Irons star Rice, who recently succeeded Mark Noble as the club’s captain following his retirement.
In recent years, Rice has been imperiously vital for the Hammers and has been key in helping them to back-to-back top seven finishes, as well as reaching the semi-finals of last season’s Europa League, linking him with moves away to Chelsea and Manchester United.
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Speaking about the future of Rice, seven-time England international Cottee believes that the only way the Hammers will keep the midfielder is if they finish in the top four this season, something he does not expect his former side to do.
“West Ham have done well to keep Declan this season,” Cottee told BETDAQ. “It was important that they stamped their authority and put a ridiculous price tag on his head - £150 million. 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, and this time next year, you might be able to pick him up for £90 million or £100 million, which is more realistic for the big boys.
“I can honestly say Declan is good enough to play for any of the top six clubs in this country, as well as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG. Name any club in Europe, he is good enough to play there. I hope West Ham can keep him, but I fear the worst, as all West Ham fans do. The only way they can potentially keep him is for West Ham to get into the Champions League for next season. And I think that could be a step too far for them this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if in a year’s time he’ll be lining up for his new club.
“West Ham fans will wish him well because he’s given his heart for the club and he wants to win something. That was ultimately why I left West Ham 35 years ago – you get frustrated that the club aren’t winning anything. And when he goes to the England squad and talks to the Man City or Liverpool boys, and they’re talking about winning stuff and playing in the Champions League, that’s what he’ll want to do.
“He’s not getting any younger. He’ll be 24 this time next year and he’ll want to play Champions League football. Unless West Ham finish in the top four I think we’ll see Declan playing for somebody else next year.”
Rice has scored ten times in 195 appearances for the Hammers since his debut in May 2017, making 166 outings in the Premier League across the last five seasons. Of his ten goals, three of them came in his ten outings in the Europa League last term.
For the first time officially as the Hammers' club captain, Rice will lead out Moyes' side in the 2022/23 Premier League season opener against Manchester City at the London Stadium on Sunday.
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