Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips believes West Ham star Declan Rice could leave the club this summer.
This comes following a report from Sky Italy claiming the 22-year-old is among the top targets for Chelsea once again.
Despite fending off interest from across London previously, the midfielder’s future has once again been thrown into doubt after it emerged two new contract offers had been rejected.
Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips has tipped Rice to move on in n pursuit of silverware.
If Chelsea come knocking and put in a big bid, it is going to happen. No disrespect to West Ham but Chelsea have just won the Champions League. Rice is still young but he will want to win trophies. He will want to join a club in Chelsea that are moving in the right direction and who will be up there, challenging for the title next season. It will happen, for me. It might cost a little bit more than Chelsea are willing to pay but I can see them pushing it through. It would be a big blow to West Ham but he will want to play for Chelsea, for sure.
Rice is currently enjoying a break after playing a starring role for England at Euro 2020.
Those performances came on the back of a superb 2020/21 domestic campaign – earning a 7.08 Sofascore rating in 32 Premier League outings.
READ WEST HAM VERDICT
Once again it seems as though West Ham may have to cling onto their prize asset this summer.
Albeit a lucrative deal for the club, selling the £58.8million valued star would leave a huge hole in the squad and perhaps moreover be a sign of the trajectory in east London.
Having qualified for Europe, the club needs to be adding to their ranks, not selling off key players.
