Don Hutchison says he wants Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to sign Chelsea transfer target Declan Rice, but he doesn’t think a deal will happen for the West Ham United star.
Liverpool already have their first big-name through their doors following the £35 million deal to sign Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Hove Albion – it has been dubbed a ‘cheap’ and ‘very smart’ deal
But who will secure the signature of Declan Rice? Hutchison thinks he is a ‘real leader’, and whilst he won’t be going to Liverpool, there is a ‘possibility’ with Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea, as he told ESPN.
A certain club in north London will want to have a big say on where Rice ends up because Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have been long-term admirers of the midfielder.
Added to that, West Ham United chairman David Sullivan says he has played his ‘final game’ for the Hammers after winning the Europa Conference League – It’s not ideal that a key figure from your club is spouting such news in the public eye.
Nonetheless, it’s clear that Rice is headed for the exit door, and whilst Hutchison wants him at Anfield, he accepts that it’s not going to happen.
“It won’t happen, but Liverpool is an obvious one because they need that profile and that player with dynamism in midfield,” said Hutchison. “A real leader. He was one of the leaders on the pitch in the (Europa Conference League) final.
“He didn’t have his best game, but when Cristiano Biragi was getting pelted, he was the first one over to the West Ham fans telling them to ‘calm down’ and it was bang out of order at what they had done. I think, in terms of ability, he can go anywhere – Chelsea is also a possibility.”
Liverpool shouldn’t entertain Rice talks
Yes, the Reds could do with a player like Rice, but as they have proved with this Mac Allister deal that they shouldn’t entertain talks with the English midfielder because of the transfer fee that is being talked about.
At the rate Liverpool are going at, they might get two top-class midfielders and they would still cost less than whatever fee Rice will cost.
Mac Allister just played a major part in Argentina winning the World Cup, added to the fact that he finished sixth with Brighton, yet Rice is going to cost more than double his price, which is ridiculous.
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