West Ham stared down Chelsea in the summer.
Frank Lampard’s side were widely reported to be very interested in snapping up Declan Rice from the Irons to cap an aggressive summer of recruitment.
The Blues, after all, snapped up the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, and Kai Havertz, among others, as Roman Abramovich pumped over £200m into the squad.
It remains to be seen the impact that may have on the Premier League season – Chelsea have lost to Liverpool and drawn with West Bromwich Albion this term already – but Rice’s future remains far from settled.
There is every chance the Blues could reignite their interest in the January transfer window but it appears that the Hammers are keen to ensure he cannot move on any time soon.
After all, the England international has made 114 appearances for the club and The Sun now reports that the Irons are keen to tie him down to a new contract.
They claim that no bid was actually tabled by Chelsea because West Ham made it so clear that they would not take anything less than £80m for their prized asset.
Rice currently earns £60,000-per-week at the London Stadium, and West Ham are facing the prospect of doubling that to £120,000-per-week in order to ensure he stays.
Rice’s current deal runs until 2024 but the Hammers will be keen to protect his transfer value over the next few transfer windows, should they be able to keep him.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
Rice is more than worth £120,000-per-week.
The Sun reports that both Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko have been earning over £100,000-per-week at the London Stadium and neither can claim to have been anywhere near as effective for the Hammers as Rice.
The midfielder has been brilliant for the Irons for some time, playing in all 38 of the club’s Premier League games last term, and has subsequently forced his way into Gareth Southgate’s plans, becoming an integral member of the England squad.
As defensive midfielders go, there really aren’t many better in the Premier League than the 21-year-old, who is surely a future Hammers captain, having worn the armband three times already this term.
Giving him what he wants should not be any kind of stretch for the Irons.