Mirror journalist Darren Lewis has hit out at people ridiculing a new West Ham transfer claim over £150m Declan Rice.
London Player of the Year and West Ham talisman Rice has been incessantly linked with a move away.
And it seems the speculation intensifies everytime there is an international break.
Given the dearth of club news during such breaks we’ll leave you to do the maths on that one.
Regardless of the obvious media drive for Rice to leave West Ham, it cannot be denied that the Hammers ace himself has made it quite obvious his long-term future will be elsewhere.
In a recent interview with Gary Neville for The Overlap, Rice made it clear he wants to be competing for and to win all the top trophies.
Rice also appeared to draw a clear line in the sand over his future in a recent interview with The Evening Standard.
He described his need for Champions League football and silverware as “urgent”.
Even the most optimistic of Hammers fans accept Rice’s long-term career will not be with them. Although some live in hope that Rice may stay if the club can somehow secure Champions League football by winning the Europa League.
Like clockwork the latest Rice rumours hit the headlines this morning when The Daily Mail claimed West Ham will demand £150m for their star man after accepting he will not sign a new deal.
“West Ham will demand a record transfer fee of £150million as they prepare to sell England midfielder Declan Rice this summer,” The Daily Mail claims.
“The London club have fought a losing battle trying to persuade Rice to sign a new contract and privately accept they will have to cash in at the end of the season.
“But manager David Moyes and the West Ham board are determined not to sell at anything less than £150m. That is £50m more than Manchester City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish when they broke the British record last summer.”
The new reports have been with the usual dismissive scoffing from ill-informed rival fans on social media and pundits claiming Rice is not worth the money.
Well credit where it is due to Mirror assistant editor Darren Lewis.
Because The Mirror journalist has hit out at people ridiculing the new West Ham transfer claim.
And Lewis pointed out that Rice is worth whatever West Ham value him at.
“Love the incredulity around Declan Rice’s £150m price tag,” Lewis said on Twitter.
“When a club wants to keep a player, they don’t attach a valuation to him that is easily affordable.
“If you’re the potential buyer, everything else is a you problem.”
Well said that man.
Rice is a West Ham player. And until someone pays what the club value him at he should remain so.
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