West Ham United starlet Declan Rice made his debut for England over the international break.
Declan Rice was rewarded for his outstanding season with West Ham by being handed his first two caps for England during the international break – including his first start for Gareth Southgate’s side in their 5-1 win against Montenegro on Monday night.
Rice performed well on what could have been a tricky night for the Three Lions. He looked comfortable in his role and it appears that the 20-year-old has every chance of remaining in the squad for years to come.
Rice will now return to West Ham hoping to show the kind of form that will see him do enough to get into Southgate’s side for the finals of the Nations League this summer. He will also be looking to help Manuel Pellegrini’s men finish the campaign on a high and perhaps secure seventh spot in the Premier League table.
With the promise that West Ham have shown this season, this summer could be a pivotal one. The Hammers arguably have a genuine opportunity to establish themselves as the heavyweights in the best of the rest table if they get the right players through the door during the upcoming window.
The pressure is on. And perhaps that pressure has increased following Rice’s international bow which highlighted how the midfielder has definitely got a place on the bigger stages in his future.
A look on social media will tell you that some Hammers fans expect Rice to leave sooner or later as he continues to realise his full potential. And his performances for England may have left more supporters feeling that his exit at some point down the line is even more inevitable.
It remains to be seen if West Ham’s resolve to keep Rice is tested this summer. But they can certainly improve their chances of holding onto their academy graduate for longer by proving their ambition in the transfer market.
Signing players who will improve their squad is now a must. If they can add two or three marquee signings to their ranks, Pellegrini will surely have an easier time of convincing Rice that the London Stadium is the best place for him.
Monday provided further proof that Rice is heading for the top. The onus is now on West Ham to show that they can continue to take him on the right path with what they do during the upcoming transfer window.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
