---
title: "West Ham: Chelsea owners ‘did all they could’ to sign Declan Rice"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-chelsea-rice-update-whufc/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2022-09-05T06:05:48Z"
modified: "2022-09-05T06:05:48Z"
---

# West Ham: Chelsea owners ‘did all they could’ to sign Declan Rice

**Chelsea’s owners ‘did all they could’ to sign [West Ham United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-news/) star Declan Rice over the summer transfer window, according to journalist Simon Phillips.**

### The Lowdown: West Ham overhaul…

It was quite a busy summer for David Moyes and the east London club as they welcomed a plethora of major signings through the door at Rush Green, including Brazil international Lucas Paqueta in a [club-record deal](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62695883) from Lyon.

Along with the South American, Alphonse Areola, Nayef Aguerd, Flynn Downes, Gianluca Scamacca, Maxwel Cornet, Thilo Kehrer, Emerson [put pen to paper](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-ham-united/transfers/verein/379) on permanent moves to the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) club.

However, incomings weren’t the only interesting aspect of West Ham’s transfer business, with [links surrounding the future](https://talksport.com/football/1131599/declan-rice-west-ham-gentlemans-agreement-chelsea-transfer/) of Rice amid Chelsea’s long-standing interest.

### The Latest: Chelsea ‘did all they could’ to sign Rice…

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88055454-chelsea-boehly-did-all-he-could-to-land-150m-star-at-stamford-bridge), Phillips has now made an interesting claim on the saga.

He explains that Chelsea’s owners personally travelled to the London Stadium in their bid to negotiate a deal for Rice, but it didn’t come to fruition.

Phillips stated of the 23-year-old: *“The owners did all they could to try and get him. They went to West Ham, they had conversations about him and I was told that it even went as far as structuring the payments of the deal.”*

### The Verdict: Warning?

This development perhaps comes as a slight warning for Moyes and West Ham.

Rice’s current contract expires in 2024, and while they have the [option to extend it by a further year,](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/profil/spieler/357662) the Hammers will need to start becoming competitive in showing to the England star that they can challenge for silverware and Champions League football.

Hailed as [‘sensational’](https://twitter.com/AdamCrafton_/status/1414310962312761346) by members of the media, the Irons will want to do all they can to keep hold of their club captain, who has been their second-highest rated player of a difficult season so far (as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham)).