According to a report by The Sun, West Ham United starlet Declan Rice is a target for Crystal Palace this summer. The youngster burst onto the fore over the course of the previous term as he put in some fine performances for the Hammers.
A centre-back by trade, Rice essayed a key role for West Ham towards the end of the season. With the club edging towards a new era under Manuel Pellegrini, they might be hesitant about letting one of their most promising players leave.
However, the report also states that the arrival of Issa Diop could push the defender further down the pecking order. For a 19-year-old like Rice, it is crucial to play regularly. That’s the best way to progress and develop further and perhaps he should prioritise that to avoid being sent on an endless slew of loans.
With that in mind, will Crystal Palace be the ideal destination for Rice? After all, the Eagles have a good number of centre-backs at hand and Rice might face a similar situation at Selhurst Park as well.
For example, the likes of James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho, Scott Dann, Jairo Riedewald, Jaroslaw Jach and Martin Kelly are all more than capable of playing in the heart of the defence. Despite their numerous problems last season, Palace had a relatively strong backline and they do not lack depth either.
In such a situation, perhaps it would be better for Rice to steer clear of Roy Hodgson’s team. It simply makes no sense to leave West Ham and move to Crystal Palace because the youngster would go through the same set of issues.
Instead, it would be better for him to stay back with West Ham. Though Diop’s arrival is confirmed, there might be hope for him. Pellegrini must strive to get the Hammers back to glory and to do so, he will require added depth in all areas.
Also, having a player like Rice would come in handy, particularly in the case of unforeseen injuries. And if the manager chooses to resort to a three-man backline, the 19-year-old will have greater chances of playing regularly.
While it cannot be denied that the defender played a key role in the club’s success last term, Rice still has a lot of growing up to do. He is far from the finished product but he has the potential to work wonders.
Nevertheless, if game time is what he is after, it would make sense for him to join a side other than Palace. As things stand right now, neither Palace nor West Ham can offer him what he wants. Thus, Rice must either look to join a different side or just stay put.