Jack Wilshere believes Declan Rice will stay at West Ham if he is playing Champions League football, but Darren Bent fears about the Hammers’ squad depth.
David Moyes has got his men playing some of the best football seen at the London Stadium and it has warranted a record Premier League points total, a place at the top of their Europa League group and a place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
Victory on penalties against Manchester City on Wednesday night will surely have supporters dreaming of a glittering cup final culminating at Wembley to supplement their European adventure.
Rice is currently leading the players in their charge, captaining the side with Mark Noble on the bench, driving his team on with his unerringly good performances.
Having been linked with a £100million move to Manchester United in the summer and a return to former side Chelsea when Frank Lampard was in charge, speculation surrounding the 22-year-old’s future has raged.
Yet former teammate Wilshere believes Rice could well remain for the foreseeable if he is playing in Europe’s top competition.
“When you talk about Dec, eventually he will probably want to go and win the Premier League,” Wilshere said on Drive.
“But to play in the Champions League with his boyhood club would be massive for him.”
The Hammers are currently sitting fourth in the table and certainly have aspirations of usurping Manchester United in the top four race.
However, Bent fears the lack of squad depth could well cost them in their pursuit of an unlikely Champions League spot.
“My only reservations with West Ham is simply squad depth,” Bent said. “You hope, but there is going to be a time when there might be a few injuries in their squad.
“Certainty one to eleven right now, they are playing as well as anyone right now. They look dangerous, they look organised, David Moyes has got them playing the right way with high energy.
“When you look at Manchester United in that top four, they are the fourth team. But with the whole situation right now with Ole, I think that fourth place is up for grabs.
“I think West Ham could get it.”