According to a report from the Express, Chelsea have slapped a massive £80 million price-tag on the head of N’Golo Kane amidst links to Inter Milan. Frank Lampard apparently doesn’t want to sell the French World Cup winner. And that should be a huge boost to West Ham’s hopes of keeping Declan Rice this summer.
In other news…’Ominous’: Some West Ham fans worried as report claims Moyes wants 22-year-old
The 21-year-old has been the Hammers’ best and most consistent player over the past two seasons.
Rice has now established himself as a regular England international. And he is arguably the Premier League’s best defensive midfielder.
So Chelsea’s long-standing interest in the former Stamford Bridge academy graduate will obviously be a concern for the West Ham fans.
The Times claimed that Blues boss Frank Lampard is desperate to sign Rice. And Chelsea are allegedly prepared to offer the Hammers two players plus cash for the 21-year-old.
Meanwhile, West Ham are said to be holding out for £80 million for the defensive midfielder.
Surely the only way that will happen is if Chelsea sell Kante to Inter Milan, however.
The Frenchman and Rice play in similar positions. So it is unlikely that the west London outfit will shell out such a mammoth fee for the Hammers starlet with the 29-year-old still at Stamford Bridge.
Big boost for Hammers’ Rice hopes
And at the same time, Inter Milan will surely not be in a position to pay out £80 million for a player nearing 30 given the current financial climate.
There is no telling what might happen in the future. But as things stand, Declan Rice is still very much a West Ham player.
He is still contracted to the Hammers until the summer of 2024, and the east London outfit have the option of extending that deal by further 12 months (Football.London).
If Kante remains at Chelsea this summer, Rice will hopefully stay at West Ham.
Let’s just hope the board finally decide to back David Moyes in the transfer market to at least show the 21-year-old that we have some ambition.
As well all know too well though, that isn’t very likely. We will take a win when we can, however.
And Frank Lampard reportedly not wanting to sell N’Golo Kante certainly is that.
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