West Ham United have ‘new yardstick’ over Declan Rice sale after big-money Chelsea move
West Ham hope to sell Declan Rice for a British club-record fee when he leaves, and they will set a “new yardstick” after Chelsea signed Enzo Fernandez for £107m in January, according to Ben Jacobs.
The CBS Sport journalist shares that suitors hope to get Rice for around £70-80m, but the market has exploded after Chelsea smashed the British transfer record to land Fernandez in January.
David Moyes said that Rice will command a fee that will not just smash the British record but blow it out of the water if and when he leaves West Ham.
“Although Moyes predicts getting a British-record fee (£107m) following Enzo Fernandez’s Chelsea move, Rice’s contract expires in summer 2024. Suitors hoping for £70-80m, but no doubt West Ham will try & use Enzo fee, & even the failed Moises Caicedo bid (£70m), as a new yardstick,” wrote Jacobs on Twitter.
Why not?
Rice has a contract at the club until 2024, and chances are high that he could leave in the summer. He has expressed his desire to play in the Champions League, and the Hammers could be forced to sell him if the right offer comes their way.
The 24-year-old has been a great servant for the club, and he has been simply outstanding in the past two years.
He has been very consistent with his performances for both club and country, and he deserves to play for a top club in the future.
West Ham are almost resigned to losing him, but they should be looking to get the best deal out of his sale. The money should be properly used in the market, and that’s for the future.
Right now, the Hammers are showing signs of revival under Moyes, and they have some tough games coming up. If West Ham can remain unbeaten in their next two London derbies, and get a win, it would boost their confidence.