West Ham will allow Declan Rice to leave this summer if they receive £120m from a Champions League club; Hammers would also accept £100m plus a player for midfielder; Arsenal most likely destination at the moment for Rice, with Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool also interested
Wednesday 10 May 2023 06:08, UK
West Ham will allow Declan Rice to leave this summer if they receive an offer worth £120m from a Champions League club.
West Ham would also accept £100m plus a player for the midfielder, with the Hammers already receiving enquiries about him.
His most likely destination at the moment is Arsenal, while Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have also shown an interest in the England international.
Rice will have one year left on his contract this summer but West Ham have the option of extending it by another year. He rejected the offer of a new £200,000-a-week contract 18 months ago.
West Ham will only sell if the money is right and all proceeds from any potential sale would go towards strengthening the squad in the summer.
Out of respect for Rice and in recognition of his performances during six seasons in the first team, West Ham have promised they will not stand in the way of his dream of playing in the Champions League if a suitable offer is made.
Rice is believed to be earning about £70,000 a week and he would be expected to earn at least three times as much if he moves this summer.
West Ham value Rice so highly because they believe he is one of the best midfielders in the world, he has an excellent injury record and he is only 24.
Speaking in March, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes Rice is only worth half of the £120m price tag West Ham are holding out for.
"I love Declan Rice," Neville said. "Obviously, Declan knows the position, but when I look at world-class holding midfielders, and players of that type, because he doesn't score or assist enough goals, you're putting him into that category of more of a destroyer.
"[Then], you've then got to be someone who I think is highly competent on the ball and linking play, and having that knowledge of the subtleties of getting on the ball from the back four.
"I personally feel, at this moment in time, that Declan needs to go and work under a different set-up, he needs to drive forward in his career, he needs to go and play at a different club.
"I think there's a lot of growth, and a lot for Declan to do to get up to the levels of Casemiro, Rodri and players at the top of the game in those positions.
"But, for me, I wouldn't be spending £110m or £120m on Rice if I was Manchester United this summer. I would spend £50m-£60m on Declan Rice, but I wouldn't spend the figures being reported."
Manchester United reportedly submitted a £100m bid for West Ham captain Rice last summer - but is he worth the price tag?
With Sky Sports pundits Roy Keane and Neville expressing doubts over the price tag, we analyse Rice's goal involvements, passing, defending and progressive stats.
