West Ham may have to brace themselves for a formal approach for Declan Rice after reports emerged claiming that Chelsea were putting the pieces in place to offer themselves a springboard for an approach.
Reports from The Mirror indicate that, whilst Chelsea are not expected to be majorly active in the winter transfer window, they are keen to look at a fresh swoop for summer targets on whom they missed out, with Rice at the top of Frank Lampard’s wish list.
In that endeavour, the Blues are reportedly looking to partially raise funds by selling the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Antonio Rudiger as they seek to utilise peripheral assets as means to partially fund a move for Rice.
Citing beliefs by ‘transfer expert’ Ian McGarry, The Mirror claimed that a loan exit for one or both Chelsea players also remains a possibility – freeing up funds for re-investment in Rice is the overarching Stamford Bridge strategy.
At just 21 years of age, Rice has already surpassed 100 Premier League appearances and is arguably the cornerstone of David Moyes’ side as he looks to be undroppable, having been ever-present in the Irons’ 2020/21 league campaign so far.
The England international, who won the club’s Hammer of the Year award for last season, was reportedly valued at £80m internally by senior West Ham figures, and the club are unlikely to deviate from that figure.
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Were a suitable bid to come in from Chelsea around the £80m mark, a deal could actually make sense for all parties.
West Ham have recently been linked with a bargain swoop for 24-year-old robust box-to-box midfielder Nahitan Nandez, who could serve as an ideal replacement.
A deal for Rice seemingly hinges on Chelsea’s ability to balance the books.
