Report – Chelsea to offer two players in late bid to sign ‘top target’ from West Ham
Chelsea will offer West Ham two of their players in a late bid to bring England midfielder Declan Rice to Stamford Bridge, according to the Transfer Window Podcast.
Chelsea have been the Premier League’s biggest spenders in this transfer window, spending roughly £250 million on the likes of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner, among others.
But the Blues’ transfer business looks to continue as they get set to offer both Antonio Rudiger and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to the Hammers as part of a deal to secure the signing of England international Rice.
The Transfer Window Podcast report that Rice has been Frank Lampard’s top defensive target this summer, and that the Chelsea manager wants to play the him in the middle of a back three as he looks to enact a defensive shake up at Stamford Bridge.
Neither Rudiger or Loftus-Cheek appear to be in Lampard’s plan for the upcoming season, and a move could appeal to both players as they look for regular football in a year that culminates in a European Championship.
However, whether this deal is suitable for West Ham remains to be seen. The Hammers value Rice at around £70 million, and the offer of two players alone may not tempt the East London club to part ways with their most exciting talent.
West Ham will also not want to lose Rice so close to the end of the transfer window, with very little time to replace him should he make the move across London.
One positive of the potential deal is that the Hammers would be acquiring two players with buckets of Premier League experience.
In Rudiger, they would gain much needed defensive cover who, at 27 years old, still has his best years ahead of him.
Loftus-Cheek offers a versatile midfield option who still has plenty of potential at just 24 year old, and could go some way towards filling the void left by Rice’s departure.
Whatever happens, it will be a nervous end to the transfer window for the Irons, as they look to keep hold of their star man
In other West Ham news, West Ham open talks over Napoli defender – Fabrizio Romano.