Chelsea are the front-runners to sign West Ham midfielder Declan Rice during the summer transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Rice continues to shine
The 23-year-old is again enjoying a fantastic season for the Hammers, shining in the middle of the park and producing a string of influential performances.
Rice has started 23 out of 24 Premier League games for David Moyes’ side in 2021/22 to date, averaging 2.3 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game.
Speculation continues to surround the England international’s future, however, as big clubs eye up a potentially huge move in the summer – it would reportedly cost £120m to lure him away.
The Latest: Worrying Chelsea claim emerges
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones, a ‘transfer insider’, claimed Chelsea are still the favourites to land Rice at the end of the season, revealing information from sources ‘that know him very well’:
“A big decision for Declan Rice, one that he wouldn’t take easily.
“I know people that know him very well, so I get quite a good inside track on where his minds at, and he’s very, very focused and determined, but there’s no doubt his head was turned when Chelsea came sniffing, and so I still say that’s his number one landing spot.”
The Verdict: Logical next move?
As painful as it is from a West Ham perspective, it is only logical that Rice could end up back at Stamford Bridge, having spent part of his youth career there and supporting the Blues growing up.
It would afford him the opportunity of staying in London and almost guarantee Champions League football, too, although a top-four finish for Moyes’ men this season could play a big part in him staying put at the London Stadium.
It is absolutely vital that the Hammers do all they can to keep hold of someone hailed as ‘exceptional’ by Pep Guardiola, but it is going to be difficult, given his ever-growing reputation.
In other news, David Moyes is reportedly targeting a West Ham signing. Find out who the player in question is here.