Premier League Rumors: West Ham Feels Declan Rice Price Tag Will Ward Off Chelsea

Chelsea F.C. may have already gotten Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, but it appears Frank Lampard still has a lot of players in mind. The past weeks have seen several players linked to the Blues, one of which is Declan Rice of West Ham United F.C.

Lampard has clarified that Chelsea has not made any formal offer for the 21-year-old midfielder, though that can change at some point.

Regardless, West Ham is determined to keep Rice at London Stadium, sources told ESPN. For him to move to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea will have to fork out at least $87 million, a price that West Ham reportedly hopes will ward off suitors.

The numbers could change, depending on whether or not the Hammers are relegated to the Championship. West Ham is just four points above the relegation round and has five games left this season.

Aside from the hefty price tag, Rice is under contract until 2024, according to ESPN. There is also an option to add an extra year, further insinuating that Rice is more likely to play on for West Ham for now.

However, some believe that the 21-year-old could take his game to the next level if he joins a bigger club. One of those who believe this is West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell.

“He’s close to 100 Premier League games already, and I’m not just saying that because he’s a West Ham player and a good mate of mine, but I do believe he’s one of the top talents in the country,” Cresswell said to talkSport.

A move to Chelsea makes sense, and Lampard is pretty much aware of what Rice brings to the table. He has known the player for a long time since Rice was in the Chelsea academy. However, he reiterated that no talks have taken place yet concerning the English midfielder.

Like West Ham, Chelsea is more focused on the current season than worrying about adding more faces in the summer. The Blues are currently at the third spot of the Premier League table, just one point ahead of Leicester City. Manchester City is ahead of them by six points. West Ham, on the other hand, is down at the 16th spot.