---
title: "Virals: West Ham midfielder Declan Rice ‘targeted’ by EPL rivals"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2022/02/02/virals-west-ham-midfielder-declan-rice-targeted-by-epl-rivals/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2022-02-02T17:00:00Z"
modified: "2022-02-02T17:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: West Ham midfielder Declan Rice ‘targeted’ by EPL rivals

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2022/02/02/west-ham-icon-left-bitterly-disappointed-by-transfer-window/) midfielder [Declan Rice](https://readwestham.com/2022/02/02/pundits-clash-over-the-future-of-west-ham-star-declan-rice/) will reportedly be ‘targeted’ by a host of Premier League clubs this summer.

The 23-year-old star has long since been the [subject of interest](https://talksport.com/football/1032976/west-ham-declan-rice-transfer-man-utd-city-chelsea-line-up/) from Chelsea and Manchester United in particular.

However, with the Hammers moving steadfastly in an [upwards trajectory](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/march/07-march/david-moyes-transformation-year-ago-now-great) in recent times, it had been hoped Rice could be inclined to stay put in East London.

According to a report from [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/02/01/declan-rice-targeted-top-premier-league-clubs-west-ham-face/), as cited by [Football Transfers](https://twitter.com/Transferzone00) on Twitter, the strong interest could well be forthcoming once more.

> 🚨 West Ham face a battle to hang on to Declan Rice 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 after the club's inactivity in the January transfer window encouraged his suitors that the midfielder could be prized away this summer. [#WHUFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WHUFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#CFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#MUFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#MCFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MCFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> (via [@Matt\_Law\_DT](https://twitter.com/Matt_Law_DT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)🌕)
>
> — Football Transfers (@Transferzone00) [February 2, 2022](https://twitter.com/Transferzone00/status/1488790103287762947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The report claims that a lack of business in January has ‘further encouraged’ Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea to pursue the [27-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/nationalmannschaft/spieler/357662/verein_id/3299) England man.

This season Rice has [scored three times and provided four assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/leistungsdaten/spieler/357662) in 28 appearances across all competitions – earning a [7.25 average Sofascore rating](https://www.sofascore.com/player/declan-rice/856714) in 22 Premier League outings.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

This has been commonplace on the agenda in the build-up to nigh on every transfer window.

Such is the [importance](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/october/24-october/declan-rice-west-ham-united-want-push-and-do-better) of Rice to Moyes’ side, the midfielder’s performance are always likely to bring about admirers from the highest possible echelons.

Whilst the lack of reinforcements could spell the beginning of the end for the London-born star as an Iron, Moyes and co will be doing everything possible to convince the [£67.5million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/marktwertverlauf/spieler/357662) man that his ambitions can be matched.

Ultimately, the failure to strengthen and with it possibly [quality for UEFA Champions League football](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) may just prove to be the tipping point.