David Sullivan addresses rumours amid Chelsea interest in West Ham midfielder Declan Rice
David Sullivan has rubbished reports that West Ham were in talks with Chelsea over the summer sale of Declan Rice.
The England international has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge ever since he’s become one of Europe’s most coveted midfield players.
Journalist Simon Phillips told Give Me Sport, “The owners did all they could to try and get him. They went to West Ham, they had conversations about him and I was told that it even went as far as structuring the payments of the deal.”
However, this has now been rubbished by Sullivan who claims that the 22-year-old was never for sale.
He told Hammers News, “Rubbish, he was not for sale this window at any price.
“We said that at the start of the window and stuck to it.”
Holding firm
Even before the window opened, many expected Rice to be someone in demand this past summer.
The Englishman had an unbelievable Euro 2020 and has also been exceptional in the Premier League for the last few years.
His ability to play as a six and an eight along him with possessing an exemplary passing range and an unreal engine which made him the complete midfielder.
He’s also good at winning possession, intercepting passes and his leadership abilities have seen him being named the captain.
There’s a lot that he brought to the table so parting ways with him this summer was not even an option the Hammers considered.
It’s good to see that the owners did not get greedy or that the club did not have to cash in on an asset before signing anyone else.