The BBC reckon West Ham already have another Declan Rice replacement lined up as the Hammers get set to unveil Edson Alvarez.
Forget Freddie Potts, Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and any other midfield stars touted as replacements for Declan Rice at West Ham.
Because the long-term successor to the former Hammers captain is right under David Moyes’ nose according to a new report.
When West Ham sold Rice to Arsenal for a British record £105m, both majority owner David Sullivan and Moyes declared the club want to sign two midfielders to replace him.
BBC reckon West Ham already have another Declan Rice replacement lined up as the Hammers get set to unveil Edson Alvarez
One of them, Mexico star Alvarez, will be unveiled imminently after West Ham agreed a £34m deal with Ajax and the player completed a successful medical yesterday.
But the other long-term Rice heir could cost West Ham absolutely nothing at all.
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Because BBC reckon West Ham already have another Declan Rice replacement lined up as the Hammers get set to unveil Alvarez.
BBC Sport has produced a wonderful five-minute feature on West Ham academy star Lewis Orford, who helped lead the Under 18s to league and FA Youth Cup glory last season.
The boyhood West Ham fan is a central midfielder who admits he has been flattered by comparisons to Rice.
Young star compared to Rice already eyeing West Ham’s number eight shirt
And the BBC headlined the feature ‘Is Orford the new Rice for West Ham’.
The youngster, who states he hopes to make the first team in the coming seasons, is also a set-piece specialist.
“I remember my dad telling me I’d been scouted for West Ham and I was buzzing because obviously I’m a West Ham supporter myself,” Orford says in the feature.
“It was a proud moment for my family….
“I’ve been signing bubbles for 10 plus years now so to walk out with all the other West Ham fans singing it (during the FA Youth Cup games) was a surreal experience, something I’ve been waiting for pretty much my whole life…
“I’ve seen a few people comparing me to Declan Rice, which is obviously a great thing to hear. We definitely have the same playing styles. If I went up to train with the first team he would always comfort me and he’d be there, he’s just an all round top midfielder so that’s what I look up to.”
Orford seems to have everything he needs to make it at West Ham.
Let’s hope he can take the big step when that time comes.
And he already has his eye on the number eight shirt in his beloved claret and blue.
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