Liverpool backed to finalise Declan Rice deal after source’s update – ‘all I’m hearing…’, says pundit
Declan Rice should sign for Liverpool in the summer even if they don’t qualify for the Champions League this season.
That’s according to former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the midfielder’s future.
On 23 November, sources told Football Insider that West Ham now expect to lose Rice to a Champions League giant next year regardless of how their season pans out.
Football Insider also revealed on 27 November that Liverpool are working on signing two midfielders in 2023.
Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea are among the Premier League teams keeping close tabs on Rice, 23, who has rejected multiple offers to extend his West Ham contract.
Whelan claims Rice should move to Anfield.
“Man City already have Kalvin Phillips who can come in and replace Rodri,” Whelan told Football Insider’s Ben Wild.
“Man United have just spent a lot of money on Casemiro. There have been links with Newcastle but they would need to guarantee Champions League football.
“Links with Chelsea have gone quiet. All I’m hearing about Liverpool these days is that they are going to be signing midfielders.
“A year ago you would have said their top priority was Jude Bellingham but maybe that has changed over the last few months with the way their season has started.
“Real Madrid and Barcelona must be looking at him now, especially after his performances at this World Cup. I think Rice is an achievable target for Liverpool.
“He could go in there and really make it his own. He is good enough to go there but, of course, Rice has now said he wants to play in the Champions League.
“Liverpool might not be in that competition next season which would make it hard for them to sign either Rice or Bellingham.
“But if I was in Rice’s shoes then it would have to be Liverpool.”
In other news, one Liverpool man is “obsessed with Newcastle United”.