Harry Redknapp has gone against the grain with a big West Ham warning to Declan Rice ahead of his expected summer move.
The beauty of football is that it is a game of opinions and everyone is entitled to theirs.
But unfortunately for fans of clubs in what has become known as the ‘other 14’ – like West Ham – there is always an agenda to get their best players playing for the so-called elite.
And that is no different with West Ham and Rice.
It says everything that West Ham captain Rice has been linked with a list of the biggest and best clubs across Europe for the last two or three years now.
West Ham fans have come to accept that Rice will be sold this summer.
Especially after he announced his desire to play regular Champions League football and compete for the top trophies in the game during that England press conference at the World Cup.
The line of questioning during that particular press conference was a perfect example of the kind of agenda set by the football media in this country.
They cannot wait to push players like Rice out of unfashionable clubs like West Ham.
The insinuation is that West Ham are not big enough or good enough a club for a player like Rice even though it hasn’t stopped him becoming one of England’s top players.
The press pack won’t be satisfied until Rice leaves the London Stadium.
Particularly since Rice has made it clear he yearns for silverware and regular Champions League football – even though there are probably only six clubs in all of Europe that can guarantee that year in, year out.
Hammers supporters have heard it on an almost weekly basis for some time now haven’t we – ‘Rice has to leave to take his game to the next level’.
Well now Harry Redknapp has gone against the grain with a big West Ham warning to Rice ahead of his expected summer move
Speaking in The Evening Standard, Redknapp believes West Ham are plenty big enough for Rice and has warned the midfielder that the grass is not always greener elsewhere.
“I think he’s still young,” Redknapp told The Evening Standard.
“I’d like to see him have a couple more years at West Ham. It’s a great stadium with 60,000 people every week.
“He’s early mega money. Where do you go?…
“He’s probably happy there. He’s a big fish at West Ham. The fans love him.
“Does he need a move at this particular time?”
If you listen to the media he does. Let’s hope Rice has a change of heart before the summer rolls around.
One thing West Ham cannot afford to do is let him go on the cheap. If someone wants our top player then they have to pay the going rate. End of.
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