Declan Rice was pictured back in West Ham training today after our truly disastrous January transfer window.
The 23-year-old is the Hammers’ best and most consistent player.
Those involved with West Ham have known for the past three years just how special Declan Rice is. He seems to have reached another level entirely this season, however.
In other news…Report: West Ham didn’t sign £6 million ace because Moyes failed to sell 28-year-old
Dec is now considered to be one of the very best defensive midfielders in world football, if not the best.
Rice is under contract with the Hammers until the summer of 2024. The East London outfit are believed to have the option to extend that deal by a further 12 months, however.
Keeping Rice at the London Stadium will be of paramount importance to our chances of making genuine progress as a football club over the next few seasons.
David Moyes and the fans will be fully aware of that fact. With the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City eyeing up a potential summer bid for the 27-capped England international though (The Telegraph), keeping Dec at the club will be easier said than done.
That is what makes West Ham’s lack of activity in the January transfer window even harder to take. The fans are asking where was the swift action? Where was the plan? And most importantly, where was the ambition? Declan Rice would have been thinking the same thing.
It would be fair to suggest that the 23-year-old midfielder would have been really frustrated with the fact that David Moyes didn’t bring in a couple of top-class players during the January window.
He certainly didn’t show that during training today though…
Declan Rice pictured during West Ham training after disastrous transfer window
The Hammers stand-in skipper is a hugely influential figure at the London Stadium. He drives us on during games and sets a fantastic example off the pitch.
Rice is an incredible ambassador for West Ham United. He has always acted with nothing less than complete and utter professionalism during his time in East London.
Not once has he agitated for a move away from the Hammers like some other players have done throughout their careers. He’s West Ham through and through.
And Dec looked more than happy during training at our Rush Green base this morning:
That really is good to see.
Declan Rice looking happy is more than anything any West Ham fan could have asked for after the owners’ shambolic attempts to strengthen the squad in January.
All that we can hope for now up until the end of the season is that our key players avoid serious injuries and we somehow manage to manufacture a siege mentality amongst the squad and end up finishing inside the top four.
It’s unlikely, but possible.
And a happy and content Declan Rice will certainly help us achieve our ambitions.
Read also:
£1.2m player’s baffling permanent D-Day exit from West Ham really went under the radar
Evening Standard claim West Ham actually made £60m bid for striker on deadline day
Di Marzio claims West Ham tried to sign £35 million-rated 30-year-old striker
Report: West Ham rejected the chance to sign ‘special’ £220k-a-week player on D-Day
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