Outspoken pundit Simon Jordan gave his opinion on the price tag that West Ham United have slapped on star player Declan Rice – he made it clear that he believes Rice is a ‘quality player’ but he also thinks that his market value is too high [via TalkSPORT].
Currently, the Hammers are unwilling to part company with the England international for anything less than £120 million. If a team were to pay this, it would make Rice the most expensive English player in history.
“He’s clearly a top-quality player. [He is only] worth £120 million if someone is prepared to pay that. If someone isn’t prepared to pay that and Declan wants to move, it puts West Ham in a slightly difficult position.
“There isn’t a market that is willing to pay 120 million quid and I don’t think there is going to be [one]. It provides a conundrum for West Ham, because I don’t think he’s a £120 million player.”
In West Ham’s last game, against Bournemouth, Rice was sensational. It was a crucial battle in the Hammers’ journey towards safety, but the England international stepped up to mark fearlessly. He capped off his man-of-the-match performance with a goal in the 43rd minute.
Plenty of teams are interested in bringing Rice on board, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. Nevertheless, it is unclear how much each of these clubs are willing to pay for the 24-year-old.
Should West Ham part company with Rice, he would need replacing immediately – he plays a vital role in their team, both defensively and going forward.