Chelsea are plotting a move for West Ham teenager Declan Rice, according to Metro UK.
The news outlet claim that the Blues are willing to offer the 19-year-old defender, who is currently playing in midfield, a £40,000-a-week deal in order to tempt him to join them.
Metro UK report that the Hammers maybe forced to sell Rice if he continues to refuse to sign a new contract with them as they would rather not see him leave for free in 2020 when his current deal expires.
OPINION
This report makes for scary reading if you’re a Hammers supporter. It details how Rice, who currently only earns £3,000-a-week despite his first-team status, has turned down a new £20,000-a-week deal and has his club fearing he could eventually leave on a free transfer. However given that Rice’s contract doesn’t run out until 2020, there shouldn’t be any reason to panic. While the Hammers maybe forced to sell the teenager if he keeps refusing their offers, it’s hard to imagine both parties not being able to reach an agreement. Manuel Pellegrini has continually given Rice opportunities to impress in the first-team, which he has taken, this season and it’s hard to see the youngster wanting to risk leaving and ending up at club that won’t play him. It’s hard to see Chelsea, for example, giving him regular playing time despite his talent and he knows that given that the Hammers rate him so highly that they will no doubt find a way to offer him a contract he deems worthy, this whole report is just scare-mongering.
