Manchester United and Chelsea have been handed a transfer blow as West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice has decided to stay with the Hammers.
As per reports in the Daily Mirror, West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is set to stay with the Hammers for at least another season amid interest from Manchester United and Chelsea. Rice has been reluctant to sign a new contract with the Hammers but is ready to spend at least one more year under David Moyes.
With two years remaining on his existing contract with West Ham, the 23-year-old has rebuffed multiple approaches from the club to sign an extension. This has given rise to speculations regarding his future with the club, with Manchester United and Chelsea showing serious interest.
The Red Devils are preparing for life without Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic and have made Rice one of the top transfer targets. Erik ten Hag is preparing for a summer overhaul at Manchester United, but if the report is to be believed, the 23-year-old West Ham midfielder will not be moving to Old Trafford this summer.
With the FIFA World Cup coming up later this year, Rice is not pushing for a move and is ready to spend another year at the London Stadium. West Ham are reportedly firm on their stance that the midfielder will not be sold this season and believe the English international wants the same.
Chelsea could reportedly lose Jorginho this summer and are looking for midfield reinforcements. Rice, a Chelsea youth product, has emerged as a potential summer signing, although a reunion seems unlikely at least this year. The midfielder recently hinted that he would stay with West Ham beyond the 2021/22 season.
“We’ve proved that we can play in big European games and our fans and our stadium have shown we can handle those big European nights, and that’s what we want more of.”
“I’m proud of the lads because we’re not the biggest of squads, so to go week in, week out again and again and again, training and playing Thursdays and Sundays, away from home and away from families has been tough, but in the end we’ve had a great year and we’re ready to go again.”
As things stand, it looks like Chelsea and Manchester United will need to turn their attention towards alternatives to bolster their respective midfield units. As for Rice, the 23-year-old English international will be at West Ham for another season at the very least.
