Manchester City now favourites to sign West Ham United captain Declan Rice ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea
Declan Rice is leaving West Ham in the summer and “everyone knows it”, with Manchester City the new leader for his signature, TEAMtalk reports.
The eyes of the biggest sides in the Premier League are once again focusing on the Hammers captain, who will have a year left on his contract in the summer with an option on the club’s side to extend it by a further 12 months.
Speculation has long-linked the 24-year-old with a return to his boyhood club Chelsea, and Arsenal have recently emerged as strong contenders in the race.
But journalist Graeme Bailey for TEAMtalk reports that that Pep Guardiola’s side are now the favourites, with various midfield departures in the summer meaning there will be “more than enough room” for them to sign him, and still target Jude Bellingham on top.
Chelsea signed British-record Enzo Fernandez in the summer and are still interested, but West Ham’s intention to ask for over £100million might price the Gunners out of the market.
Manchester United and Liverpool also like the Irons star but Casemiro’s arrival at Old Trafford, and the planned pursuit of Bellingham at Anfield, reportedly put them some way down in an “intensifying” race.
Auction
Rice has a small matter of ensuring Premier League survival at the London Stadium to focus on before he considers an exit, with the not-unrealistic possibility of adding a European trophy still on the table in the Europa Conference League.
A big-money exit feels like it has been on the cards forever now, and while the club is sure to barge right through if the door is left open for him to remain, this summer will be the time where a huge fee is last available.
If David Sullivan or potential future owner Daniel Kretinsky are willing to take a hit of many millions to keep Rice in town for a year longer then it is possible he doesn’t leave, but given his semi-frequent statements of intent to play in the Champions League it is going to be harder and harder to keep the player himself happy.
He certainly doesn’t seem the sort of character to down tools on the club, although some might say amid a miserable season where nobody is reaching their potential it would be hard to tell either way.
The club will of course want huge money to let him go, as David Moyes has made clear on plenty of occasions, but given how fortunes have dipped so badly having spent a lot of money this year that cash will need to provide a return that adequately replaces Rice.
The likelihood is he will go, but until a deal is on the table that makes sense for the club to accept some fans will hope for another 12-months of him in a West Ham shirt.
However, in light of the way things are shaping up at the clubs who want him it seems like that is going to be a lot harder this summer than last.