LOYALTY is the main reason one of ENGLAND'S BEST won't move clubs yet
He's one of England's best, but a gentlemen agreement is keeping him at his current club
They say loyalty is a thing of the past in today's football, with even an award, Athletic Club's One Club Award, given to those players who spend their whole careers with a single club. That being said, it seems like all that's keeping one of England's best players at his current club is precisely that. The player is Declan Rice, and the club is West Ham United.
Declan Rice will stay loyal to West Ham United for now
The 23 year old holding midfielder burst into the scene as a Hammer in 2017-18, then just 19 years old, and has since been one of the London club's best players in their renaissence under David Moyes. However, the blood running in his veins is Chelsea blue. Rice was actually born and raised in South West London, and was part of the Blues' academy from the age of seven, until he was released in 2014.
Now, as he looks to make the jump from a good team to a title challenger, it's Chelsea and Manchester City who look like the only two real suitors, with reports stating that Rice largely favours a return to his childhood club.
That, however, won't be until the following season according to UK radio talkSPORT's Alex Crook. "I think Declan Rice will give West Ham one more year. I think there's almost a gentlemen agreement that he will do that", stated the journalist.
As reported by Crook, the opinion is that Rice feels he has something to prove at Chelsea, but will fulfill his contract with West Ham up until the final year, which would be 2023-24. "It wouldn't surprise him if he ends up at Chelsea in the long haul," Crook explained. "People feel that he might have a bit of unfinished business there".
Another factor in Rice's decision could be his relationship with one of Chelsea's best players, as Crook commented: We know about his friendship with Mason Mount. [Others] will probably tell you that that doesn't really come into play when players pick their new clubs, but they do have a really strong bond".
Rice and Mason Mount are close from their days at the Chelsea Academy
As such, everything points out as to loyalty to the club that gave them his chance when others wouldn't as the sole reason Declan Rice will add to his 192 matches, 9 goals and 9 assists with West Ham United.
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