It's pretty obvious from Declan Rice's comments while on World Cup duty that he wants to play Champions League football and win trophies that he will be leaving West Ham in the summer. It's hard to blame him — a player of his talent will go to the very top and I'm grateful to have seen him in a West Ham shirt over the past six seasons. He'd certainly get in my all-time Greatest Hammers X1. The Irons had chances to make the Champions League in the previous two seasons but failed to sign a striker and were hampered by a thin squad. Those chances don't come round very often.
Replacing Rice will be near impossible, but there's no way we should keep a player who is dissatisfied. The team might even benefit slightly from being less reliant on Declan. There's always the chance Soucek might regain the form of two seasons ago, though Flynn Downes hasn't as yet looked good enough to be Rice's successor, but to be fair he's often been played out of position. Should Man City come in then a player exchange for cash plus Kalvin Phillips might appeal. Whatever happens, it's going to be a big test for Moyes and West Ham. Under Moyes Everton sold Rooney but improved — we have to hope he can do the same again.
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