West Ham news: Declan Rice wants to join Champions League club amid source’s £70m update – expert
Alan Hutton has claimed Declan Rice will demand an “influx of top players” in order to remain at West Ham this summer.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested a potential move for Kalvin Phillips could be the “catalyst” for the 23-year-old committing his future to the club.
A West Ham source told Football Insider on Monday (21 March) they are lining up a fresh summer move for £70m-rated Phillips and are prepared to offer him an “enormous” salary.
As revealed by this site on Thursday (24 March), David Moyes is planning to keep Rice for next season – and wants to build around the £150m-rated midfielder.
Hutton conceded the England international will want to play Champions League football.
He suggested Rice could stay if he is satisfied by the show of ambition at the London Stadium.
“It will definitely be interesting,” he told Football Insider‘s Russell Edge.
“If you’re Declan Rice and you see a player coming in who you know and you’ve got a really good understanding with – that could be the catalyst for him staying.
“However, I think for Rice moving forward, he wants to play in the Champions League. He’s at that level.
“He’s the main man for West Ham. I think he’d want a bigger influx of top players to really show that ambition if he’s to stay.”
Rice, who has notched four goals and four assists this term, is contracted until 2024.
West Ham’s chances of a top-four finish are shrinking, but they could yet qualify for the Champions League via a Europa League triumph.
In other news, pundit predicts how West Ham could beat Arsenal to “brilliant” striker coup.