In recent comments made on Twitter, Matt Law provided an update on the reported interest in West Ham United midfielder, Declan Rice.
According to Law, ‘West Ham [are] confident’ that Chelsea’s sacking of Frank Lampard will end the club’s long-term interest in Rice, with a move by the Blues rated as ‘highly unlikely’ – unless Chelsea’s new head coach, Thomas Tuchel, makes him a ‘priority’.
[freshpress-quiz id=”287845″]
In Law’s report for The Telegraph, the journalist claimed that Rice was ‘at the top’ of Lampard’s January shopping list, with the 42-year-old being prepared to sell Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso and Kepa Arrizabalaga in order to raise the funds for a move – something which the club ultimately failed to do.
Law also claims that, while the news will be pleasing for West Ham, it may ‘come as a blow’ to the £49.5 million-rated man himself, as he is thought to have been keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.
[freshpress-poll id=”343822″]
Transfer Tavern Take
While it would appear that any immediate danger of losing Rice this month has subsided for West Ham, it is not difficult to imagine that the 21-year-old will be attracting attention from elsewhere as his performances this season – Rice’s average WhoScored match rating of 7.02 ranks him as the club’s joint-third best performer in the top flight, prior to the Crystal Palace fixture – have been highly impressive.
Indeed, Law claims in his article that Liverpool could emerge as candidates to sign the England international this summer, with Manchester United have also been credited with a possible interest in the midfielder.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are thought to be eyeing a move for this international ace, find out more here!
