Darren Bent has named five players West Ham should look to spend the Declan Rice transfer fee on this summer.
The Hammers are set to receive a £100million windfall from selling their captain to Arsenal, with David Moyes in need of that cash to help strengthen his squad ahead of their Premier League and Europa League campaigns.
Bent suggested how the east London club can put that those millions to good use when Rice has finally gone – this is what he said:
“This first one, I don’t think they’ll be able to get him, but Kalvin Phillips. Unless Man City are telling him he’s not going to play, I don’t think he’d go. But signing him on loan would be good for West Ham.
“James Ward-Prowse. I think that would be perfect – Rice goes, he comes in. It won’t be that difficult to get him because Southampton have been relegated so they will need money.
“I’ve also gone for Jack Harrison from Leeds. Very good player. I know they’ve got Bowen and Benrahma, but I think he’d help. You need depth and competition in those forward areas.
“And Harvey Barnes from Leicester. Also relegated, and I believe he can get better.
“I reckon you could get all those players for around £35m each – so let’s call that £140m. That’s the Declan Rice money plus some of what their budget would have been anyway, and these are all proven Premier League players.
“And then the last one is Wilfried Zaha on a free transfer. I’ve said that would be a sideways step for him, and it would be. West Ham are in Europe, but they almost got relegated from the Premier League last season. Crystal Palace finished above them.
“So it would be a sideways step for Wilf, but West Ham do offer European football, which is what he wants.
“But Ward-Prowse, Harrison and Barnes, they’re achievable signings for West Ham – you can get them.”
