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West Ham United have reportedly set their asking price for star midfielder, Declan Rice, as speculation about his future continues to grow. The England midfielder now has just two years left on his existing contract at the London Stadium and has shown no interest in signing a new deal.
Due to his performances and commitment to the club over the years, the West Ham board have reportedly agreed to let him go this summer should a suitable offer come in from a club in the Champions League. Rice has made it known that he wants to progress his career forward at the highest level, meaning Champions League football is firmly on his mind.
However, for anyone thinking of buying Rice this summer, the deal isn’t going to be a cheap one despite his current contract status. The board have reportedly set an asking price of £120m for the 24-year-old, although they would accept £100m plus a player.
Based on these figures, Rice would become the most expensive signing in British Football history, topping the £106m that Chelsea paid Benfica for Enzo Fernandez’s services in January.
The potential to be priced out of a move
By setting their asking price at over £100m, West Ham are potentially pricing Rice out of a move this summer which is unlikely to go down well with the midfielder who has come through the ranks at West Ham after being let go by Chelsea as a 15-year-old.
West Ham will allow Declan Rice to leave this summer if they receive an offer worth £120 million from a Champions League club 💰 pic.twitter.com/kogK9e57ZU
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 9, 2023
Speaking a few months ago on SkySports, former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville also believed that £100m was too much for a holding midfielder player who is yet to prove himself as the highest level. 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.
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. I would spend £50m-£60m on Declan Rice, but I wouldn’t spend the figures being reported.”
Where could Rice end up?
It’s not a secret that several Premier League clubs have made enquiries about Rice and there will be plenty of suitors should this asking price drop under the £100m mark.
In recent summers he has been linked heavily with Manchester United, who Rice dominated at the weekend and a return to Chelsea. However, it is Arsenal who are rumoured to be the front runners as they look to bolster their squad ahead of another title charge next season.
Liverpool have also shown interest but they are the most likely of the four clubs to be priced out of the move as they look to rebuild their entire midfield this summer.
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