Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are considering making a bid for West Ham defender Declan Rice, according to The Sun.
According to the newspaper’s print edition on Thursday (21st June, page 49) the two Premier League clubs are mulling over the idea of trying to sign the 19-year-old centre-back after his contract stand-off with the Hammers.
The Sun reports that Rice is likely to fall down the pecking order at the club due to the Hammers completing a big-money deal to sign defender Issa Diop from Toulouse.
Good move for West Ham?
Letting Rice depart is one of the worst decision the club could make this summer.
The 19-year-old centre-back featured 32 times for the senior side in his 2017/18 season and was one of the only positives during a dreadful campaign for the club.
With the Premier League duo of Palace and the Cherries circling the defender just in case his contract stand-off continues is a worrying situation.
The Hammers must wrap up a deal for his future right now and ensure that there is not any suggestion that he will soon depart the London Stadium.
It borders on unthinkable that the Hammers could let such a huge talent slip through their fingers.
Forever West Ham rating: 0/10
Likely to happen?
No.
The Hammers were previously reported by Claret & Hugh as being confident about sorting Rice’s contract situation out after it was claimed that the club only offered him a salary of £8,000-a-week.
Their report shared that a new £15,000-a-week deal was being offered and that the Hammers believed a deal would be struck with the teenage centre-back.
Although it’s worth nothing that their report was issued on June 10th and as of yet, it seems the club are still in a contract stand-off with Rice as a new deal for him is yet to be officially confirmed.
At this stage Palace and Bournemouth are only mulling over the idea of bidding for him, so the Hammers do have time to sort his contract situation out before it gets messy.
Forever West Ham rating: 2/10
