Three players who could replace Declan Rice at West Ham

West Ham star Declan Rice is on the radar of Arsenal ahead of the summer transfer window, with Mikel Arteta exploring ways to strengthen his squad.

The England international, 24, has been the subject of plenty of interest from the Premier League’s big six over the last two years following his impressive performances for West Ham. Arsenal reportedly have established themselves as the front runners for his signature, although their main rivals in landing the midfielder could be London rivals Chelsea, who have been tracking his progress for some time.

With Declan Rice heading into the final 12 months of his contract, the feeling at West Ham is that they will lose their skipper this summer. Elsewhere, interest from the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United could lead to an intense bidding war for Rice, who is valued at around £80 million by the Hammers.

It is high time for West Ham to consider replacements for Rice as he is keen to play in the Champions League and compete for trophies. That said, here are three players who could replace Rice at the London Stadium next season.

#Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt)

With Declan Rice set to leave West Ham in the summer, David Moyes and the club have started scouring the market for his replacement. As per reports, Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Djibril Sow has emerged as a potential option for the Hammers to replace Rice.

Sow, 26, has been on West Ham’s radar since 2022, with the Swiss international helping Eintracht Frankfurt beat Moyes’ side in last season’s Europa League semi-final. This season, the midfielder has played every minute of his club’s Champions League games and has netted four goals in 41 appearances across all formats.

The 26-year-old is about to enter the final year of his contract at Frankfurt and could be available for a paltry £ 20 million. Having garnered experience in the Bundesliga, European and international stage, Sow appears to be a smart option to replace Rice at West Ham.

#Khephren Thuram (OGC Nice)

Khephren Thuram is one of the highly-rated young midfield talents of French football, and he has been enjoying a sensational season with OGC Nice. And his consistent performances in Ligue 1 has caught the attention of Europe’s elite clubs.

Standing at 6ft 3ins tall, Thuram, 22, is an imposing figure at the heart of Nice’s midfield, possessing power, energy and stamina aplenty. He is a defensive midfielder by trade but has the versatility to play further up the pitch as well. In addition, the Frenchman is also an excellent tackler and ball-winner.

Thuram is an unbelievable talent, and while a host of top European outfits are vying for his signature, West Ham must try their best to crack a deal with Nice as he would exactly be the perfect replacement for Rice.

#Orel Mangala (Nottingham Forest)

Orel Mangala was among a host of players to arrive at Nottingham Forest last year following their promotion to the Premier League. He has enjoyed a decent first season in English football, scoring a goal in 23 appearances for Nottingham Forest.

Mangala, 25, is a composed passer of the ball and a good reader of the game. The Belgian has the qualities to be a smart addition to the West Ham midfield, especially with the likes of Said Benrahma, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio in attack. A quick turnover would allow them to probably be imperious on the counter-attack.

With Forest embroiled in a relegation battle and could even drop down at the first time of asking, Mangala is a player the Hammers must target to replace the Arsenal-bound Rice.