West Ham United and Manchester City tipped for cash-plus-player deal to swap Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips
West Ham have been tipped for a potential major swap deal with Manchester City that would see Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips both move by 90min transfer specialist Graeme Bailey.
The Hammers captain has been in the sights of some of the biggest clubs in England and Europe for years now, and there is a growing feeling that this summer might be when an exit happens, with Arsenal and Chelsea also heavily linked.
But Pep Guardiola’s side is thought to be heading for a series of changes in the midfield department, which could include summer signing from Leeds United Phillips leaving already, and with the Irons attempting to sign him from Elland Road last season the England midfielder plus cash could be enough to land Rice.
Speaking on the 90min podcast Talking Transfers (21 February, 30min 30sec) Bailey was asked if Manchester City were currently favourites to sign Rice and answered: “I think it’s similar to [Jude] Bellingham. I don’t think Rice has made that decision yet. We know Arsenal like him [but] whether Arsenal could come up with the fee and the wage package I’m still a bit sceptical.
“City, we could see a bit of a midfield overhaul… Kalvin Phillips, from our understanding, Pep’s getting a bit frustrated there. He could be jettisoned as well, he’s never really got fully fit from the summer, and he could be key.
“There’s a player West Ham like, we know there was the bid for him a year ago, so if you could offer Kalvin Phillips as well… that would tick a lot of boxes for West Ham.
“I could see it, yeah. I think Rice would be very nice fit… we know City have liked him for a long time.
“It’s heating up again for City as they look to do a midfield overhaul and Rice is very much in their thinking.”
Consolation
If and when Rice departs it is hardly going to be an enjoyable experience for West Ham fans but bringing in a ready-made replacement plus a decent amount of money might make it more palatable.
Few would contend that the Irons captain isn’t the superior of the two, and Phillips’ injury record would be a concern, but if he was fit then swapping one half of the Three Lions central pairing that made it to the Euro 2020 final for the other might not be the worst move.
Until concrete offers start arriving there will be some hope amongst supporters that Rice remains in place for longer still.
But given how disappointing this season has turned out to be that is becoming harder and harder to believe in, and should the Hammers actually be relegated then it is a foregone conclusion that he goes.
The signings made in the summer did appear to show the ambition that the captain had craved last season, but David Moyes hasn’t found a way to put his new side together and virtually the whole squad has underperformed.
That might negatively affect Rice’s transfer value, as will a year fewer on his contract, but given his standing in the national side it is unlikely to deter clubs coming in for him.
Fans will want to see a huge fee if he is to leave but Phillips could be a reasonable consolation, since money in itself is no use and would only be helpful if it was spent on a proper replacement anyway.