West Ham tipped for ‘£100m’ spending spree after Declan Rice update – pundit
Noel Whelan has suggested West Ham are preparing for Declan Rice’s departure with a new midfield signing lined up.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, tipped a “£100million-plus” spending spree should the 23-year-old be sold this summer.
A West Ham source told this site last week (24 March) that signing a new midfielder is the club’s priority, despite David Moyes’ determination to keep Rice on board.
The Scottish boss wants to build around the England international and is seeking cover and competition ahead of the summer.
However, Whelan suggested talk of Rice staying in east London could be a “smokescreen”.
He insisted the money raised from the midfielder’s sale would help sign as many as six new players.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Maybe they know something about Declan Rice that we don’t. Maybe it’s all a smokescreen. A player to play alongside him? Well, it might be to replace him.
“There’s no smoke without fire. There are no guarantees that West Ham are going to have the same success that they had this year.
“His valuation might go down. So sometimes it might be the best for both parties to strike while the iron’s hot and really squeeze every last bit of cash out of him.
“It’s going to give you four, five, six quality players. They need a quality striker. I’m sure they’ve got some finances for that.
“But what the sale of Declan Rice, £100million-plus possibly, would give you? There are a lot of choices out there for that money.”
Rice’s contract at West Ham runs until 2024.
However, the Irons have an optional one-year extension clause they could trigger.
In other news, pundit predicts how West Ham could beat Arsenal to “brilliant” striker coup.