---
title: "Exclusive: Dean Windass claims West Ham’s Declan Rice is eyeing Champions League move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-dean-windass-claims-west-hams-declan-rice-is-eyeing-champions-league-move-e181/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Danny Rust"
section: "Chelsea Football Club"
published: "2021-08-10T05:02:25Z"
modified: "2021-08-10T05:02:25Z"
---

# Exclusive: Dean Windass claims West Ham’s Declan Rice is eyeing Champions League move

**West Ham United star Declan Rice is itching for a move to a Premier League club readying themselves for another season of Champions League football, according to Dean Windass.**

Rice was one of West Ham’s most consistent performers last term as they registered a [club record](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/may/23-may/david-moyes-im-so-proud-set-premier-league-points-record-and-lead) Premier League points tally to qualify for the Europa League.

After making [35 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/leistungsdaten/spieler/357662/plus/0?saison=2020) for the Hammers last term, Rice went on to [start](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/nationalmannschaft/spieler/357662/hauptwettbewerb/EM/verein_id/3299) all of England’s fixtures as they reached the Euro 2020 final before falling agonisingly short of being crowned champions of Europe.

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Rice has been [heavily linked](https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/transfers/2020-2021/who-s-really-leaving-erling-haaland-harry-kane-jack-grealish-declan-rice-raphael-varane-inside-footb_sto8430960/story.shtml) with making a move back to Chelsea, where he enjoyed time in the youth academy before [moving](https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad/declan-rice#Profile) onto West Ham following his release at the age of 14.

Manchester City have also [kept tabs](https://theathletic.com/2683661/2021/07/01/declan-rice-chelsea-man-city-and-why-west-ham-are-under-little-pressure-to-sell-just-yet/) on the 22-year-old, while Manchester United have been told it would take a bid close to [£100million](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/man-utd-transfer-saul-pogba-24630925) for the Hammers to entertain selling Rice.

The defensive midfielder has rejected [two new contract offers](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/01/declan-rice-rejects-west-ham-contract-offers-chelsea-manchester-united-city-champions-league) made by West Ham and ex-Premier League striker Windass is certain Rice feels ready to compete in club football’s leading European competition.

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Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: *“You want to play at the highest level for the best clubs in the world.*

*“Declan was one of England’s pluses at the Euros and the big hitters will come calling. He is a London boy and who wouldn’t want to play for the likes of Chelsea?*

*“If you turned around to Declan and asked if he wants to go and play in the top four, he’s not going to say no.”*