Former West Ham United and Scotland striker Frank McAvennie has told David Moyes who he should sign as a replacement for captain Declan Rice, should he leave the Hammers.
While there have not been recent links that Rice is set for an imminent exit, the Hammers captain and England star has little over 18 months left on his current deal at the London Stadium and is yet to put pen to paper over a contract extension, pointing towards a potential exit in the future.
With that question remaining over his long-term future, ex-Hammers striker McAvennie, who scored 49 league goals across two spells for the club between 1985 and 1992, has discussed potential replacements for Rice should he leave.
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One player that the five-time Scottish international suggested is fellow Scot and former Aberdeen midfielder Lewis Ferguson who is currently plying his trade for Italian side Bologna in Serie A.
Since swapping Aberdeen for northern Italy in the summer, 23-year-old Ferguson has scored three goals in nine Serie A matches, one more league goal than any member of David Moyes’ squad.
While McAvennie feels as if Ferguson may not be ready to succeed Rice, he feels the similarities in playing styles between Ferguson and Rice may make him a smart move.
"I always said that I like the boy Lewis Ferguson, he’s in Italy now. He’s doing very well,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone. “The same kind of player as Declan. He’s a big boy, strong, he’s got legs and can run.
"It’s a player like that that we need. The young boy coming through is going to make a name for himself. The fans will love him.
"I don’t know who David [Moyes] would go for but he must know of the boy Lewis, and I think he could make it now. He’s shown you what he’s capable of.
"He done well at Aberdeen and now he’s doing well for Bologna, in the first-team scoring goals. It takes a lot of balls to go over there in the first place. Fair play to the boy. He’ll play in the Premiership at some point.
"Whether he could come in and take Declan’s place at the moment I don’t know but he’s that kind of player. I’m sure David Moyes will have his eyes on him.”
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