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While it’s a topic that no West Ham United fan really wants to talk about, there will come a time when Declan Rice will leave the Hammers.

That’s because clubs with a lot of money in England are circling around the midfielder, and if he does go, he will need to be replaced.

That’s why West Ham are seemingly looking around Europe for a replacement as they brace themselves for a possible Rice exit in the near future.

One of the names mentioned as a possible option is that of Jerdy Schouten, currently at Bologna in Serie A.

The Dutchman’s contract in Italy expires in 2024, and he is one of the players the Italian side could cash in on in the coming months if the right offer comes in.

In fact, their director of football, Riccardo Bigon, is expected ‘planning a trip to London’ on Wednesday, according to CalcioNapoli24 in Italy, where he will sit down with six Premier League sides.

This is reportedly to ‘probing their intentions’ regarding Bologna players, and one of the clubs will be West Ham.

The Hammers are said to be ‘the most seriously interested team’ in Schouten, and it’s made clear they ‘evaluate’ his arrival ‘in the event of the sale of Rice’.