Former West Ham striker Carlton Cole is adamant Declan Rice will stay at the club beyond the end of the season and has backed them to finish above suitors Manchester United in the Premier League.
West Ham have slapped a £150million price tag on the 23-year-old, who is already the subject of an intense transfer battle prior to the window opening in June.
Man United are the leading suitors for Rice as they look to replace Paul Pogba, who will leave Old Trafford on a free transfer in the summer. Chelsea had been in the hunt but are now unable to buy players after the Government’s sanctioning of owner Roman Abramovich.
Carlton Cole believes West Ham star Carlton Cole (above) will stay at the club this summer
West Ham have slapped a £150million price tag on the 23-year-old England midfielder
The Hammers sit two points behind the Red Devils in the table and have played a game more.
But speaking at an event organised by Bookmakers.com, Cole backed David Moyes’ men to finish above Ralf Rangnick’s side, an achievement which the 38-year-old believes would ‘end the conversation’ around Rice’s club future.
‘Where is he going? I just can’t see him going anywhere and [clubs] affording the price,’ West Ham academy coach Cole told Sportsmail.
‘I don’t think Chelsea can do it at the moment for obvious reasons for this season. Where else is he going to go? Man United? No, they aren’t in a good place at the moment either. Why go to Man United when you can stay at West Ham?
Cole has backed the Hammers to finish above suitors Man United and end speculation about Rice’s future
‘We’ll finish above Man United and what are you gonna say then? Nothing, you can’t just go and get our best players. We’ll finish above Man United and no one is going to stay anything. He is gonna stay at the best club possible.
‘Especially if they bring somebody else in that compliments his style, you’ve got [Tomas] Soucek there, bring another striker in and all of this conversation will be…