Declan Rice has been a bright light for West Ham United ever since he made his debut for the club. He has been one of the key pieces in their journey to finishing in the top six of the Premier League. However, it seems like the relationship between the club and Rice is coming to an end this summer.
Newcastle United, who have just qualified for the Champions League after defeating Aston Villa in the final league game of the season, are one of the clubs interested in securing Rice’s signature. It is rumored that the Newcastle United managementers feel that signing Rice would be a great statement of intent and a positive reinforcement of their newly acquired Champions League status. This move would also benefit Rice in terms of playing as a guaranteed starter and earning a substantial wage.
But this transfer could hit a few roadblocks. First and foremost, Newcastle would have to cough up around £100 million to convince West Ham United to let go of their prized midfielder. Then, if Newcastle are successful in signing Rice, he would command a wage of around £300,000-a-week, which would make him Newcastle’s top earner. It is believed that the club is wary of Financial Fair Play restrictions and is cautious of falling foul of them.
The other teams reportedly interested in Rice, such as Manchester United and Arsenal, would also have to break the bank for his services, but they would be able to offer Rice Champions League football, which could sway his decision in their direction. Manchester United, especially with their talented squad and ambitious manager, would be an ideal destination for Rice to excel and continue his upward journey.
Despite this, Newcastle’s management seems keen on going after the West Ham United midfielder as they feel Rice’s presence in their team would drastically improve their chances of competing at the highest level. This transfer would be a massive statement of intent from Newcastle United towards other clubs across Europe, as well as the players they want to attract.
As for the player, only time will tell where Rice ends up. But one thing is for sure, he is a top-quality Premier League midfielder, and any club that manages to sign him will have added a fantastic asset to their team.