Chelsea will revive Declan Rice interest, January exit from West Ham United is off the cards
Journalist Simon Phillips remains confident that Chelsea will return to West Ham to bid for Declan Rice, even after a managerial change.
The Blues made signing Rice a top priority in the summer, but the Hammers fended off interest after naming a hefty price tag for the England international.
Rice has instead stayed and become captain following Mark Noble’s retirement, and David Moyes seems set on doing all he can to keep him at the London Stadium.
But Phillips doesn’t think anything will put Chelsea off returning for Rice, although he believes their pursuit of his signature will resume next summer.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Talk Chelsea host Phillips said: “Obviously, they looked to try and do it in the summer, it was one of the first jobs they had when they came in.
“They went to West Ham, Tuchel was asking for Declan Rice, they went to West Ham, but they were saying that, ‘we’re not going to sell him unless it’s silly money, and we also want a replacement.’
“So, Chelsea just backed off in the end, but I fully expect Chelsea to be going back in for Rice again. I wouldn’t say in January, but definitely next summer.”
Statement signing
With Champions League clubs continuing to sniff around Declan Rice, it’s paramount that West Ham do all they can to tie him down on a new contract.
The club needs to show its ambition, and extending Rice’s contract shows other clubs that West Ham can retain world-class talent and not back down to the ‘big six’.
So far, the board and Moyes, in particular, have done superbly to fend off interest over Rice, but a new contract would silence all the rumours.
West Ham may have endured a slow start to the season, but the long-term ambitions of being a mainstay in European competitions remain, and Rice is pivotal to those plans.
Rice’s demands – whether it be financial or on the pitch – need to be met in order to convince him to sign the contract.
If Rice turns down all contract proposals and is set on leaving the club in the near future, then West Ham at least need to stay stubborn on their £100m+ price tag in order to reinvest in other top-class talents.
Either way, it’s bound to be a busy and stressful window next summer.