By Pranav Shahaney

29th Mar, 2023 | 3:10pm

West Ham to use Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as benchmark as Arsenal and Manchester United keen on Declan Rice transfer

West Ham are reportedly going to use Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as a benchmark as Arsenal and Manchester United keen on Declan Rice.

According to the Evening Standard [29 March], while they will struggle to get £150million they wanted a couple of years ago for the England international, they consider themselves in a solid position.

Given the money that Fernandez went for to Chelsea and also the valuations of Jude Bellingham and Moises Caicedo, they will they can get a good deal for Rice, who appears set for an exit.

Make the most

It would be extremely naive for the Hammers not to capitalise on the demand for Rice as not just Arsenal and Manchester United, but Chelsea, Manchester City and even Liverpool have been credited with an interest.

They’re all clubs backed by billionaire owners and can certainly pay up what West Ham demand and even enter a bidding war.

It will come down to which club needs him most desperately and that could see the two Manchester clubs bow out of the race.

Liverpool need a midfielder but will not be able to match Arsenal and Chelsea and the battle may just be down to the two London sides.

The 24-year-old’s agent is doing his bit and offering Rice to as many clubs as possible and perhaps even discussing initial terms to see what the best deal is for his client.

However, with no Champions League football next season at Chelsea, we can see why a move to the Emirates Stadium would be tempting for Rice.