sport news David Moyes admits it's just a matter of time before Declan Rice leaves West Ham trends now
It was the unexpected nature of the sales pitch that grabbed your attention. Much like Del Boy appearing from nowhere with a suitcase full of toy puppies, David Moyes was setting up his stall.
‘Undoubtedly he’s going to be a top player and undoubtedly he’ll be a British transfer record and more whenever he leaves West Ham,’ said manager Moyes.
Roll up, roll up. There you have it — the bidding starts at £105million for Declan Rice. That is the fee Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez last week, the highest ever for a club on these shores. And this is where Rice will stay if that is the price, given clubs abroad can no longer extend to such largesse. Paris Saint- Germain, maybe, but he is better than Ligue 1.
On Saturday, at St James’ Park, he was also better than every other player on the pitch. That is why Moyes was asked about his midfielder’s performance afterwards. But not, it must be said, his future. So when Moyes, unprompted, flung open that suitcase, it raised eyebrows. Is it, then, inevitable that Rice will be leaving, he was asked?
‘I hope not, I hope he sees out his time here,’ said the Scot. ‘But look, there’s a lot of talk about it and when you see what’s going about for the prices, I think Dec will be blowing that British record out of the water, that’s for sure, when it comes around.’
Declan Rice was better than every other player on the pitch at St James’ Park on Saturday
West Ham drew 1-1 with Newcastle during their Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon
That word again, ‘when’.
Given Rice turned 24 last month, this is surely the summer when he will move on. It almost felt like Moyes was revealing some sort of gentleman’s agreement.
The England star has given West Ham six brilliant seasons. That is one more than Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick played at the club. His legacy, you feel, would not be tainted.
Moyes’s words were also telling in that he has previously stated — but only when it was put to him — that Rice would cost upwards of £150m. This felt like a more realistic setting of the bar.
So, where does he end up? In an ordinary world we could
