West Ham ‘have conceded internally’ Declan Rice WILL leave in the summer, with Chelsea eager to beat Man United and Man City to his signature… despite Frank Lampard’s insistence for England star ‘irritating Blues board’ during 2020 pursuit
- England midfielder Declan Rice is going to be a man in demand in the summer
- West Ham have reportedly ‘conceded internally’ that he will need to be sold then
- Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City are all huge admirers of Rice
- Ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard was insistent in wanting Rice back in 2020
Declan Rice’s time at West Ham is reportedly in his final few months with the east London club ‘conceding internally’ they will have to sell him in the summer.
Rice, 23, has elevated his stock immeasurably in the last few seasons and has established himself as a key part of the England national team.
West Ham have spent months trying to get Rice to agree to a new deal but the Athletic now report that there is a growing acceptance a divorce between player and club is near and his wish of playing for a club in the Champions League is close to being granted.
West Ham have reportedly conceded they will sell star man Declan Rice during the summer
Rice’s future is one of the most talked about in the Premier League at this moment and the West Ham midfielder, who sees his current contract expire in 2024, addressed it before England’s World Cup last-16 tie with Senegal in Qatar.
‘One hundred per cent, I want to play in the Champions League,’ Rice said. ‘For the last two or three years, I’ve been saying that. I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing.
‘I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies.’
His friendship with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount (left) could prove key in the summer
One of those closest friends is Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, which strengthens the Blues in any pursuit at the end of the season.
The Athletic have detailed how Rice will definitely not be sold in January but an acceptance has set in behind the scenes at West Ham that he will be allowed to leave in the summer given he ‘rejected three contracts offers’.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly was in attendance in Qatar to watch England’s opening 6-2 win over Iran in which Rice starred alongside Jude Bellingham, another player Chelsea are said to be keen on.
Rice added back in 2020 to Copa90 that he would ‘love to play with Mount at club level again’.
Rice (right) has been sensational for West Ham and has seen his price rocket above £100m
The midfielder tweeted a photo of the pair following England’s win over Iran, saying ‘Just two best mates at a World Cup’.
Chelsea face competition in their pursuit of Rice and back in 2020 it is reported that ex-manager Frank Lampard’s insistence for the midfielder ‘irritated’ the Blues board and cost the move happening.
Since then Thomas Tuchel, his successor, was keen and now current boss Graham Potter is an admirer.
Back in April, West Ham manager David Moyes claimed it will take more than £150million for any side to get Rice.
‘The first thing to say is that he is not for sale,’ Moyes said when asked if £150m represented a true valuation of Rice.
Frank Lampard was insistent he wanted Rice back in 2020 when he was Chelsea manager
‘If you are interested, well, it will be north of that. One hundred was cheap last summer. One hundred and fifty just now would be minimum but he is not for sale.
‘What I do know is that it means there are only certain clubs that could even consider it.’
Rice was released by Chelsea at the age of 14 and there may well be a feeling of having unfinished business in south west London.
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