West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has said that he is not sure whether Declan Rice will continue to ply his trade at the London Stadium next season. The 20-year old has been one the bright lights of the just-concluded Hammers season and moved from being a fringe player to a first team regular under the Hammers’ Chilean gaffer.
Rice’s performances saw him being named West Ham’s young Player of the Year as well as their Players’ Player of the Year at their recent end of the season awards. He also made his international debut for England during the season, switching allegiance from the Republic of Ireland after a word with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
For the money they spent last summer, West Ham underachieved a fair bit in 2018/19, and only managed to secure a top ten finish on the final day of the season after beating ten man Watford 4-1 at Vicarage Road. Rumours have been swirling about a potential move to Manchester United for the young medio, and Pellegrini said he “cannot say whether Rice would stay or go”.
Chelsea, who released Rice when he was a youngster, are also said to be interested, although how the Blues work around their transfer ban is another matter altogether.
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