CHELSEA will reportedly go all out to grab Declan Rice in January – while West Ham will offer a double-your-money £120,000-a-week deal to keep him.
The Hammers will demand £80million for the player they grabbed after he was released by the Blues as a kid.
Chelsea will go out all guns blazing to grab Declan Rice – who could get a new £120,000-a-week deal at West Ham to deter their London rivalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
According to the Daily Star, Chelsea are determined to get him back.
But boss David Moyes is determined to keep his man – out of contract in 2024 – and the East Londoners will offer Rice a new £120,000-a-week five-year deal.
Rice, 21, currently on £60,000-a-week at the London Stadium, plays in the anchor role in midfield for the Irons and England, but could be moved to play in a defensive role at Chelsea.
He has become Blues boss Frank Lampard’s top priority in the next window – after the two London clubs were unable to do a deal in the summer.
Rice moved to East London at the age of 16 and has now clocked up over 100 appearances for the Hammers.
Lamps and Chelsea bean-counters worked hard over the summer but could not get Rice.
They brought in £48m striker Timo Werner, £60m attacker Kai Havertz, £50m left-back Ben Chilwell, £36m midfielder Hakim Ziyech and £24m keeper Edouard Mendy, as well as centre-half Thiago Silva on a free.
Rice was the final piece of the jigsaw for Lampard as he builds a title-winning side.
And he hopes that the player can make the move across London in just over ten weeks’ time.
The Blues boss believes Rice is a better option than N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic – with the blend of keeping possession and his ability for long-range accurate passes.
And he knows the youngster will get better and better and better.
And as an added bonus he knows he would be able to drop the versatile England international into a centre-half role if need be.
Rice is a huge fans’ favourite at the London Stadium – but could be persuaded to return to his boyhood club where his best friend, Mason Mount, is in the first team.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
