A number of Manchester City fans have reacted negatively to reports linking Declan Rice with a move to the Etihad Stadium.

The Athletic's West Ham correspondent Roshane Thomas wrote in a mailbag for the website on Friday that there is "every chance" of the Premier League champions making a transfer offer in 2022 for the England midfielder, who was reportedly a target for the Cityzens this year as well. Man City fan feed @City_Chief later shared the update via Twitter.

A core presence in the Three Lions' run to the Euro 2020 final in the summer, Rice has also drawn admiring glances from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, with some reports claiming that West Ham had placed a £100m price tag on him to ward off prospective suitors. Incidentally, that was the same amount which City paid to Aston Villa for his England team-mate Jack Grealish in August.

Despite his tender age, he has already captained David Moyes' side on numerous occasions and exceeded 150 first team appearances. City reportedly want him as Fernandinho's long-term successor at the Etihad, with Rice and Rodri potentially playing together or even vying for just one place in Pep Guardiola's midfield.

Man City fans don't want Rice

These City fans on Twitter weren't overly keen on the idea of the club making a big-money move for the "overpriced" West Ham midfielder, with some stating their preference to see City academy starlet Romeo Lavia promoted to the senior squad instead and others believing Rice to be surplus to requirements given the presence of Rodri at the Etihad.

"Behave"

Credit: @pinner_stewart

"He’s so bad. Along with Southgate, Kane and Mount, one of the major reasons we didn’t win the Euros. Just promote Lavia"

Credit: @EthanGaffiney

"Oh my word, another English player. Gonna get overpriced"

Credit: @BuhleQavile

"One of the most overrated players I've ever seen. Rodri is 10x the player Rice is. This fella can't make a progressive pass to save his life and is slower than a snail facing counters. Just promote Lavia or even get Kalvin Phillips who defo is better than Rice"

Credit: @JamesMcSilva

"Please no. We already employ Rodri who is 10x the player Rice is"

Credit: @mxnciteh

"Why? Good player but he won't be the worth the stupid money we would have to pay + Rodri is better."

Credit: @King_Kevin100

In other news: This development prior to the Club Brugge game had lots of Man City fans excited