West Ham United will demand at least £100m for Declan Rice this summer amid interest from several top Premier League clubs in a deal that could make him a British transfer record.
Rice, who has been with the Hammers for eight years, and continues to improve, turning in an excellent performance in the centre of midfield to help David Moyes’ side beat Manchester United 1-0 at the London Stadium.
“He is probably the best English midfield player around and that is why he is going to be extremely expensive if anybody comes calling,” Moyes said after the game.
According to Sky Sports, ‘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’, but they will demand £120m for any club to sign the Englishman outright.
There is an alternative, with the Hammers willing to accept a part-exchange which would see the fee paid lowered to a mere £100m.
Now safe from relegation, Rice’s value has only increased in the past twelve months, and though he has rejected several new contract offers in east London, there is little pressure to sell with the midfielder having up to three years left on his current deal should the Hammers trigger the 12-month extension in his contract.
As it stands, it is thought to be Arsenal that are leading the race for his signature, but the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are all keeping tabs on the situation.
Currently earning around £70,000 per week, reports claim that he would demand around £200,000 per week at his next club (£10.4m per year), taking the total outlay for the midfielder over a five year contract to over £150m.
