Danny Murphy has advised he may need to risk upsetting if he is to be granted his dream move to Arsenal.
The Hammers have reluctantly accepted their skipper will leave the club this summer but are holding out for an offer of £100million for the international.
Arsenal have already seen two bids rejected by their rivals and are expected to return with a third offer closer to the asking price imminently.
Earlier this month, West Ham chairman David Sullivan conceded Rice would be allowed to leave the London Stadium in the close season but his public declaration has failed to spark the anticipated bidding war.
Chelsea have their sights set on Moises Caicedo as their No.1 midfield target following the departures of Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante.
Reports earlier this week claimed Manchester City and Manchester United were prepared to tempt West Ham with player plus cash deals, but Rice’s has privately made clear his desire to join the Gunners.
Given Arsenal’s reluctance to meet West Ham’s valuation, Murphy feels Rice could be forced to go on strike if he is to complete the switch from east to north London.
He told talkSPORT: ‘As of now Man City aren’t in – my understanding is they have not committed yet and I’ve heard nothing about Bayern Munich – so Arsenal don’t have to rush.
‘And it may get to a point where Declan has got a decision to make – has he got the courage to kick up to get out if he needs to?
‘I know he’s not that type of lad but sometimes you have to be Craig Bellamy, Joey Barton – you’ve got to look after yourself.
‘I only had it once in my career, but you have to be able to follow through.
‘It means you have to make it perfectly clear, ‘If you keep me here I won’t be playing’, and even if you don’t really believe it long-term, you have to do it and make them believe.
‘Is it a professional thing to do? It doesn’t matter. You’ve got to look after yourself.
‘The big question mark for Dec is if Man City do come in late, the choice over whether to leave London or not.
‘London is his home, it’s where he’s grown up, it’s where his family is, but as a football decision it would be a no-brainer to join the Premier League champions.
‘If you had a choice between City and Arsenal, although Arsenal are on a great trajectory, you’d pick City all day long.’
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