---
title: "West Ham: Irons keen on Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to replace Declan Rice"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sergej-milinkovic-savic-transfer-news-rumours-latest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dominic Lund"
section: "Premier League News"
published: "2023-02-19T12:40:24Z"
modified: "2023-02-19T12:40:24Z"
---

# West Ham: Irons keen on Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to replace Declan Rice

**[West Ham United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-news/) have identified [Sergej Milinkovic-Savic](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/sergej-milinkovic-savic/) as their top target to replace Declan Rice, according to a recent report.**

### The Lowdown: Rice set to leave?

Rice’s current contract is set to [expire](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/profil/spieler/357662) at the end of next season, meaning West Ham could be forced into a sale this summer, should they want to receive the highest possible transfer fee.

David Moyes has [suggested](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/18141724/west-ham-declan-rice-david-moyes/) that their midfielder is worth north of £150m, and there are multiple [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) clubs interested in his signature, including [Liverpool](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fc-news/declan-rice-transfer-news-rumours-latest-update/), [Chelsea](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/follow-up/declan-rice-latest-transfer-rumours-updates/) and [Arsenal](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fc-news/arsenal-gunners-declan-rice-transfer-news-rumours/).

As such, the Hammers have now started to identify potential replacements…

### The Latest: Milinkovic-Savic is top target

As per a [report](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21434919/west-ham-sergej-milinkovic-savic-declan-rice-lazio/) from The Sun, the Irons have placed Milinkovic-Savic at the top of their list to replace Rice, and he may be available this summer, given that his contract will also have just [one](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sergej-milinkovi%C4%87-savi%C4%87/profil/spieler/266302) year left before expiry.

Moyes is already believed to have sent Alan Irvine on a scouting mission, in order to get a closer look at the midfielder, and he may be in West Ham’s price range, given that he has been overlooked by other clubs.

[![West Ham latest news](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-david-moyes-premier-league-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-news-6/)

### The Verdict: Make it happen

Such is the talent of the 27-year-old, he was [lauded](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1579741843142549504?s=20) as ‘magic’ by teammate Ciro Immobile earlier this season, who even added that he is [‘on the same level’](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1579741843142549504?s=20) as Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne.

The Serbian’s assist stats certainly put him in the same bracket as De Bruyne, reaching [double figures](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sergej-milinkovi%C4%87-savi%C4%87/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/266302) in his previous two Serie A campaigns, while he has already set up his teammates for goals on [eight](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sergej-milinkovi%C4%87-savi%C4%87/leistungsdaten/spieler/266302) occasions so far this term.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”419201″\]

Nobody at West Ham will be keen for Rice to depart, however if he is to leave, then the next best thing is bringing in a replacement who’s on a similar level.

Milinkovic-Savic is exactly that, and he also provides far [more](https://fbref.com/en/players/4e6dbac4/Sergej-Milinkovic-Savic) of an attacking threat, ranking higher than the [Englishman](https://fbref.com/en/players/1c7012b8/Declan-Rice) for non-penalty goals, assists and shot-creating actions per 90 over the past year.