West Ham manager David Moyes has said that Declan Rice is not for sale, calling him ‘the best English midfielder around’.
As Declan Rice continues to be linked for a move away from West Ham to Arsenal or Chelsea, David Moyes has warned competitors that the English midfielder will only be sold for a very expensive fee this summer.
Rice continues to attract teams and keeps being a top prospect for Chelsea and Arsenal after another excellent performance against Manchester United, which culminated in a 1-0 victory for the Hammers. Both London clubs look to be battling for the 24-year-old’s signature during the transfer period in the summer.
The England international’s contract with the Hammers will expire next summer, so a choice has to be taken to avoid losing him for free. The captain has already rejected two offers from the club to renew as well. While it has not been verified, the Hammers are thought to have the option of extending his contract by another year.
What did David Moyes say?
After the win, David Moyes spoke to the press. There, when asked about the rumors of Rice moving to either Chelsea or Arsenal, the Scotsman said,
“You’ve seen him play for England, you’ve seen the abilities he uses in recovering the ball and getting around people. He’s great across the ground, very quick. I’m pleased, but not surprised.”
David Moyes: "Declan Rice is probably the best English midfielder around". ⚪️⚒️ #WHUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 8, 2023
"Also, that's why Declan is going to be very expensive if/when clubs come calling". pic.twitter.com/Ra6DJOj7tt
“Yes, that’s why he is probably the best English midfield player around and that is why he is going to be extremely expensive if anybody comes calling.”
Chelsea or Arsenal? Who will sign Declan Rice?
Rice has already declared his desire to play in the Champions League. So, it will be difficult for the Hammers to retain the midfielder next season.
According to Transfermarkt, the player is valued at €80 million. But the price tag could be up to €100-130 million, considering the price of recent Premier League transfers.
Arsenal has an edge in this transfer since Chelsea will not be competing in Europe next season. While Arsenal will play in the UCL for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The Gunners are also playing some excellent football as well, with a solid plan for the future.
🚨 West Ham will demand £100m for England midfielder Declan Rice this summer.
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) May 6, 2023
Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool are all monitoring developments.
(Source: ESPN) pic.twitter.com/dsBxrgfUpt
However, Rice was in Chelsea’s academy and even played with Mason Mount there. He left at the age of 14 but it has been said the West Ham captain prefers Chelsea as his next destination. Chelsea is also known to spend big on transfers, as seen recently. So breaking the bank for Rice seems to be nothing for them. While Arsenal has been quiet in the transfer market, not known for spending big on players.
Another club that has the possibility of signing Rice is Liverpool. The Reds have failed in their pursuit of Jude Bellingham, so may consider Rice to be the perfect replacement. Though they have yet to show any interest. It remains to be seen what happens in the Rice transfer saga, as we may witness another British transfer record being broken in the summer.
