Former Premier League defender Jason Cundy believes Manchester City should try and sign Declan Rice in January as West Ham United continue to struggle to tie him down to a new contract.
Back-to-back defeats for Manchester City have seen them lose massive ground to Liverpool in the title race and they are now third, seven points behind Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Pep Guardiola’s side have struggled without Fernandinho protecting the back four at the base of their midfielder and John Stones and Ilkay Gundogan have looked ill-equipped for the job.
Manchester City failed to sign cover for the Brazilian last summer and despite the club insisting that they do not want to spend in January, Cundy believes Rice is the perfect player for the reigning Premier League champions.
And he indicated that with West Ham playing with fire with regards to his contract situation, the midfielder is poised to be snared away from the London Stadium if Manchester City put in a big money offer.
Cundy took to Twitter and wrote: “So Manchester City aren't the same team without Fernandinho!
“They should go and make a big offer in January for the excellent Declan Rice as West Ham seem incapable of giving him the contract he deserves!!”
A product of the West Ham academy and a centre-back by trade, the teenager has managed to become a mainstay in the West Ham team as a defensive midfielder.
Rice has little over 18 months left on his current deal with the Hammers.
