Sir Trevor Brooking shares key reason why Declan Rice shouldn’t leave West Ham for the time being

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Brooking spoke to Ian Abrahams, who asked him whether he saw Rice staying with the Hammers for the next 10 years.

West Ham United legend Sir Trevor Brooking has stated that he would like to see Declan Rice at the club for at least another three or four years and outlined his reasons why the 20-year-old should stay with the Hammers for the time being.

Rice has been in superb form for West Ham this season, making 32 appearances in all competitions and becoming a Hammers fan favourite along the way, and he has also earned two caps for England following his allegiance switch from the Republic of Ireland.

Earlier this season, the defensive midfielder put an end to speculation regarding his future at West Ham by signing a contract until 2024 (official club website), but with his stock continuing to rise, he is bound to have potential suitors interested in him over the coming years.

In conversation with Ian Abrahams of talkSPORT, Brooking acknowledged that a player of Rice’s calibre “will get distracted by other teams and clubs telling you our manager is really keen on you”, but gave his reasons as to why he should not look to up sticks for the time being at least.

Abrahams asked Brooking whether he could foresee Rice staying put for another 10 years at the London Stadium (Instagram audio clip on Abrahams’ page, 6:15) and he replied: “My argument initially, for the next three to four years at least, stay where he is, really become a key player at the club.

“For me at the moment, you haven’t seen the finished product. He’s got a lot to learn, he’ll have his little setbacks and it’s much better to have them here at West Ham than somewhere else where, if you have them, you could end up being a squad player for a while which I don’t think (he’s at) the right time or age to do it.”

This week, Brooking and Rice were at the opening of the Irons’ new £4million academy facility at their training ground in Chadwell Heath, alongside the likes of Tony Cottee and Alvin Martin.