Pep keeps Rice on the City backburner

A MOVE FOR THE WEST HAM PLAYER COULD BE ON THE CARDS NEXT SUMMER

- STUART BRENNAN

BACK in February, Pep Guardiola volunteered the names of two West Ham players who he felt were the threats to his City team's fabulous unbeaten run.

Name-checking Michail Antonio was no great surprise - the big striker is the kind of player that usually presents the Blues with a problem, allying technique and finishing ability to strength and size.

But it was the other name Guardiola mentioned, unprompted, that had the assorted football scribes raising an eyebrow.

Asked about the Hammers' improvement under David Moyes, the City boss replied: “What I saw is the rhythm increased a lot on previous seasons. They have fantastic players like Declan Rice. I am a big admirer of him and Antonio is always a headache for his movements.