Declan Rice is widely regarded as the future of English football, and according to a report from The Daily Mail, fate could have led him to Southampton.
During his younger years, after Chelsea had made the surprising decision to cut ties with the midfielder, he was faced with several offers from English clubs.
Southampton were, as per the report, among those who had made proposals to sign Rice, who departed Stamford Bridge at just 14.
Fulham and Saints both showed an interest in recruiting the midfielder for their respective academy setups, but he plumped for a move to West Ham United, where he is now thriving under Manuel Pellegrini.
Read Southampton’s verdict
Rice made the right decision. He’s among West Ham’s best players, and I think he’s a sensational talent. He could go right to the very, very top, as few midfielders in the country possess a similar skill set at 20.
It’s interesting to think about just how different Rice’s career trajectory may have been had he ignored West Ham’s approaches to sign for Southampton, with our academy then renowned as one of the best in the country.
However, while it may be regarded as a missed opportunity, it’s just good to see that Rice hasn’t fallen through the net and he is maximising his potential.
An established England international with many, many exciting years ahead of him; I think he should be one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team sheet for the foreseeable future.
