HAMMERS SLAP £100M ON CHELSEA TARGET

West Ham United have reportedly slapped an asking price of £100m on star midfielder Declan Rice who has been linked with a return to Champions League winners Chelsea this summer. The England international is also attracting interest from Manchester United.

Both Chelsea and Manchester United might need to pay a club-record fee for Rice according to the report via The Athletic which stated that the Hammers are reluctant to part with a key member of their first team under manager David Moyes. England national team player Rice was a major part of the Hammers team who came close to Champions League qualification before they had to settle for Europa League football in the new season.

The aforementioned media portal revealed that West Ham United will demand a huge fee in six figures if both Manchester United and Chelsea step up their respective interests in the player. Hammers midfielder Rice was a regular in the England midfield as the Three Lions came close to winning the just concluded Euro 2020 tournament.

Rice was part of a two-man midfield with Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Philips for England throughout Euro 2020. England lost to Italy on penalties in the final after the two teams were inseparable at the end of extra time. The two countries scored a goal each before the Italians won the tournament by beating England 3-2 on penalties.

West Ham United star Rice was a Chelsea player until he was released by the club at the age of 15. The Blues are ready to welcome him back but they might need to do so at a huge fee. The asking price from the Hammers will almost certainly rule out Manchester United who recently spent £73m on Jadon Sancho. England international Sancho will join Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund in the coming days.