Declan Rice departs West Ham United
Thought I’d open a specific Declan Rice thread, given the likelihood of him leaving this summer, just to ensure the more generic transfer thread doesn’t get completely consumed by Rice discussions. I can see this needing lots of attention over the summer so a thread to discuss all things Declan & maybe a potential tribute should he move on.
It looks like Arsenal is his ‘favoured’ move, which makes sense with the likes of Ramsdale, White, Saka, Smith-Rowe, Nketiah, plus a London club & the likelihood that Xhaka is moving on in the summer. I’m not sure they are going to get better next season after this, even with Rice, but it’s probably a comfortable club for him to move to & one where he fits the squad demographic - young, developing.
Hopefully he can sign off with a win at Leicester, a trophy & an open-top bus parade. I really hope the owners hold out for £100m.
It looks like Arsenal is his ‘favoured’ move, which makes sense with the likes of Ramsdale, White, Saka, Smith-Rowe, Nketiah, plus a London club & the likelihood that Xhaka is moving on in the summer. I’m not sure they are going to get better next season after this, even with Rice, but it’s probably a comfortable club for him to move to & one where he fits the squad demographic - young, developing.
Hopefully he can sign off with a win at Leicester, a trophy & an open-top bus parade. I really hope the owners hold out for £100m.
Comments
Behind City though, you can make a strong case for CL for probably 5 teams, so at least 2 will likely miss out (and I'm not even counting Spurs). Starting with apparent favourites to sign Rice, Arsenal have really upped their game this season, and, but for a collapse of Crisp proportions in the run-in, would have won their first title in 20 years. They have the joint youngest squad in the PL, and, at times this season, have played some fantastic football. I think the loss of Saliba through injury was a big factor in their season tailing off as it has done; they either need to strengthen their depth at CB, or possibly at RB where Ben White has had a surprisingly good season unless, of course, he stays there going forward. With the likely departure of Xhaka and the inconsistent performances of Partey this season, you can certainly see why Rice is a target, but Arsenal have also been strongly linked with Caicedo at Brighton; it's hard to see them spending the required nearly £200m in CM alone.
Will Arsenal manage to repeat a good league finish next season and those to come? On the face of it, with such a young squad and, even though I dislike him, an improving manager, you'd certainly think so, but they may find it tougher in the early part of next season as they're playing in the CL group stages, for the first time since the 2016/7 season, rather than the much easier EL groups. In addition, for those of you interested in such things, up until the international break at the end of March (right before the wheels started to come off), Arsenal were exceding their xG for the season by over 13 goals, suggesting they'd had a bit of a purple patch in front of goal for the first part of the season.
Man Utd seem to be heading in the right direction, and they do often play a 4-2-3-1 although sometimes with 2 holding players, and sometimes one holding and one deeper playmaker. Neither Fred nor McTominay are really good enough (certainly not as good as Rice), and Casemiro is 31 although playing very well.
Liverpool have surprisingly been well off the pace this season after having narrowly lost out on the title to City twice, and beaten them once, in the last 4 seasons. They have finished the season strongly though, and, with an ageing midfield, would really benefit from Rice, but question marks have been raised as to whether they could afford the transfer fee. No CL next season, but likely to challenge at least for top 4 next season, and probably start as favourites for the EL as well.
With a decent season, you'd have made Chelsea favourites to sign Rice; much has been made of his friendship with Mount, and Rice's own connection with the club. However, it's been a crazy season for them, so many players brought in, 3 managers with a new one to come next season (albeit a good one) and owned by someone who makes Sullivan look like an astute owner. On top of that, Mount hasn't signed a new contract is expected to move, so I'm not sure Chelsea are likely to come out on top of the race for Rice's signature; definitely no European football for them at all next season as well.
Newcastle have enjoyed their best season in a long time, obviously backed by Saudi money. They are, however, hampered by the FFP regulations moreso than Chelsea or Man City were when they benefited from a big money takeover, and they'll also have to cope with European football which will undoubtedly stretch their current squad (although the fact that they're in the CL rather than a lesser European competition will hugely boost their revenue helping with squad building amidst aforementioned FFP restrictions). Repeating top 4 could be a big ask next season imo.
Geography is something to be considered. I'm not saying it would stop a move to certain clubs, but much is made of Rice's closeness to family and friends, and the impression is that he would prefer to stay in London; the fact that he has a partner and young family could mean an added factor, and all in all location is probably one of the main reasons Arsenal seem to be favourites to sign Rice.
Man City are the club I’d want him to move to. They need a player that they thought Phillips was, they have lots of young English talent (Foden, Stones, Grealish, Phillips), a world class manager, a trophy winning machine, humble set of fans. They are your guarantee of trophies. Have won the PL, with potentially CL & FA Cup to follow. Play fantastic football.
Arsenal is a ‘safe’ move, but I don’t think he’ll sit there in 5 years with a cabinet full of medals.
West Ham's Rice speaks to Tuchel and Bayern
Declan Rice has spoken to Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel over the phone and is open to joining the German champions, report Sky Germany.
Sky Sports News revealed earlier this month that Rice could leave West Ham over the summer and he has a "gentleman's agreement" with the club to let him leave, providing the price is right.
However, Arsenal are set to bid for Rice this summer and time is running out for Bayern to enter the picture.
I just want it done quickly. Lift the trophy on the 7th, sign for City or Bayern on the 8th. Get it done, get his replacement signed and let's all move on. A protracted saga would really annoy me.
They’d play in the CL every year without fail, get further in it than Arsenal, pretty much always win the Bundesliga, domestic German trophies.
In terms of if he wants a guarantee of silverware, that’s a no-brainer.
Bayern
Arsenal
Man Utd
Anybody else want to join the party?
Oddly Salihamdzic was sacked along with CEO Oliver Kahn an hour after Bayern won the title on Saturday
We will want to interest as many clubs as possible in order to get the best deal. That might mean we take some time to see who the highest bidder is. Declan's agents will also want a good deal and Declan will want to make sure he goes somewhere that respects and values him as a player and where he can fit in well.
We might want it all to happen quickly but my guess is it won't.
But I think it's probably a fair assumption that he is going to move on in the summer.
Maybe I’m completely wrong in that but I would’ve thought that would play a part in his decision making.
Personally can understand why a teenager would go for regular game time and European competition that he would struggle more for at his age in the premier league but less so for someone approaching his mid-20s and already established in the premier league. Bundesliga was a step up from the championship but clearly isn’t from the premier league.
One thing that comes through time and time again (100% 😂🤣😂) in the interview is how much Rice values the closeness of his family, and friends to a degree as well. I really can't see Germany happening, and you can see why many think London based clubs have an advantage in the race for his signature.