Liverpool and Manchester City among several PL clubs ‘monitoring’ 24-year-old midfielder

LFC Transfer News: Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City continue to monitor Declan Rice

Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal are among Premier League clubs ‘monitoring’ a move for West Ham United star Declan Rice, as per ESPN.

The England international is set to enter the final years of his contract at the London Stadium, although there is an option to extend it by another year. Rice has been a staple fixture in West Ham’s lineup for the past several seasons.

At the age of 24, he is their captain and has amassed 239

senior appearances for the club. Such experience is invaluable for a player in his age group, and it isn’t a surprise that PL’s big boys are chasing his signature.

The combative defensive midfielder specialises in shielding his defenders and breaking up play. It is odd to see Manchester City’s name linked with him considering they already have the world-class Rodri and the Liverpool-linked Kalvin Phillips as his backup.

No need

Nevertheless, one can’t predict what is cooking in Pep Guardiola’s mind. When Manchester City show interest in a player, those in the race have to be wary of them considering their financial clout as well as recent success.

West Ham are apparently demanding £100million

for his services. Liverpool fans would certainly be enraged if the club meets that price tag after supposedly pulling the plug on a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham due to his £135million price tag.

We do need a defensive midfielder to compete with Fabinho but it is better if we sign one who can also play as a No. 6 and costs less. Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United are also said to be interested in Rice, which only complicates matters.

More Liverpool News:

• Manchester City to join the race for Liverpool target Ryan Gravenberch
• Liverpool ‘cool interest’ in Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo
• Jurgen Klopp hails James Milner with Liverpool midfielder set for Brighton & Hove Albion move

We are better off pursuing players that aren’t too overhyped and are a relatively unknown quantity. But that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be a headline signing in midfield as well, which the fans have been longing for, even more after news that Bellingham is unlikely to come to Anfield.