Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea have been handed a massive boost in their pursuit of West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
According to The Guardian, Declan Rice has turned down a third contract renewal offer from West Ham United and is now open to a summer move. The English midfielder was offered a deal worth £200,000 per week which could have made him the club’s all-time best-paid player.
Rice has been West Ham’s midfield lynchpin over the last few seasons and has been one of the first names on the team sheet since being promoted to the first team in the 2017/18 season. The Chelsea youth product has made 188 appearances for the Hammers’ senior side, scoring ten and assisting nine goals.
This season, Rice has made 43 appearances for West Ham across all competitions, scoring five and assisting four goals. He has played an integral role in their push for a top-four finish, with the London outfit currently seventh on the league table.
The 23-year-old has been on the radar of multiple Premier League clubs over the last few seasons, but it finally seems that he may be on the move. Chelsea and Manchester United are both hot on West Ham’s heels to secure Rice’s signature and the midfielder’s willingness to finally take a step up from West Ham could play in their hands.
Excl: Declan Rice has turned down third contract offer at West Ham. There’s still no agreement – Rice has always been committed, but he’s now open to a move this summer. ??????? #WHUFC
West Ham insist he’s untouchable as David Moyes said – but Declan Rice won’t sign a new deal. pic.twitter.com/5TIjcO2zUS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 22, 2022
Manchester United have had a long-standing interest in the English international. They have made several approaches as well, but West Ham have turned down all their advances. Going into the 2022/23 season, however, Manchester have made Rice their number one transfer target.
In the wake of the impending departure of Paul Pogba, Manchester United need to sign a world-class midfielder now more than ever. West Ham manager David Moyes has suggested that Rice could cost £150 million to any potential suitor, but it looks unlikely that any Premier League club would shell out that amount of money.
Chelsea’s pursuit, on the other hand, depends a lot on their new owners, leaving Manchester United with ample time to make a move. Things might not be that straightforward, however.
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The aforementioned report claims that West Ham could decide against selling Rice this summer even if the midfielder does not sign a new deal. He will still have two years remaining on his contract after the current season, and he could thus be sold next season as well. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea or Manchester United manage to prise Rice away from the London Stadium.
