Declan Rice has been a consistent performer for West Ham this season. (Getty Images)
Manchester City have made big strides in recent times but the race for the country’s most coveted footballing trophy is still on. Fernandinho, 33, continues to be one of their standout performers.
City did show some weaknesses off late in a run of poor form as Pep Guardiola’s side lost three league games out of four. One of the most noticeable weaknesses exposed during that run was the need to find a replacement for the ageing Brazilian midfielder.
Despite having riches throughout the squad, Guardiola has not been able to find a viable replacement. After the recent run of poor form, the need to sign a defensive midfielder should become Guardiola’s primary concern.
According to reports in The Sun, City are said to be interested in 19-year-old West Ham defensive midfielder Declan Rice. The young defensive midfielder has proved to be a standout performer for a Hammers side that has been inconsistent throughout the season.
However, West Ham would not be willing to lose the youngster, having recently tied him down to a new contract that would keep him at the club until the summer of 2024. Rice has been laying the foundation for a strong finish in the Premier League for West Ham and his exit could prove to be a huge blow for the Hammers and their ambitions of finishing the season on a high.
Given his age and the promise that Rice has shown, the Hammers have a huge prospect on their hands and Manuel Pellegrini would want to hold onto the young defensive midfielder to compete for European places from the next season.
But Manchester City are blessed with the financial power to make such deals happen and a price of £50million (h/t The Sun) might not be a stumbling block.
In fact, Rice could prove to be an ideal replacement for Fernandinho and given the already inflated transfer window, that price seems like a bargain. One might bring about the point of inexperience but the 19-year-old has shown a lot of promise and can do wonders under the guidance of Guardiola.
Thus, he could prove to be a long-term replacement for the Brazilian, who has shown signs of ageing off late.
