Declan Rice is ‘excited’ by the prospect of a Chelsea return claims journalist but West Ham fans know the truth.
West Ham’s reported interest in Chelsea-owned striker Armando Broja was always bound to result in the inevitable talk of a “swap” and cash deal between the London rivals.
And sure enough less than 48 hours after West Ham supposedly made their interest in Broja official, Chelsea are suddenly being linked with Rice yet again.
Former Chelsea youth player Rice has been incessantly linked with a big money return to his old club over the last two years.
West Ham have also been adamant Rice will not be sold for anything less than their reported £100m-£150m valuation.
Chelsea have – predictably – used West Ham’s supposed interest in Broja to try their luck in a swap plus cash deal.
Rice is ‘excited’ by prospect of a Chelsea return claims journalist but West Ham fans know the truth.
Give Me Sport journalist Terry Flewers has claimed a Rice move to Chelsea is ‘on’.
And he followed that up today by claiming Rice is ‘excited’ at the prospect of a return to Chelsea.
“Declan Rice to Chelsea is ON!” Flewers said on Twitter.
“Declan Rice is excited about the chance of moving back to Chelsea!”
Even if Rice ‘excited’ by prospect of Chelsea return, as claimed by the journalist, West Ham fans know the truth.
It has been known in West Ham circles for some time that Rice will remain at the club for at least one more season.
The player said as much himself during West Ham’s end of season awards recently.
Rice will take over from departing captain Mark Noble as West Ham skipper next term.
The Daily Mail has reported Chelsea have tried to use Broja and midfielder Ross Barkley in a swap deal for Rice.
But regardless the Irons have made it clear to Chelsea they have no chance of buying Rice this summer.
A prominent West Ham insider has told Claret and Hugh that co-owner David Sullivan has told new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and Blues boss Thomas Tuchel Rice is ‘going nowhere’.
“However, the Hammers want straight cash (if and when they sell Rice) and would have no interest whatsoever in 29 year old Barkley when the time comes – and that certainly won’t be this summer,” a West Ham insider told Claret and Hugh.
“And the club remain West Ham are hopeful that Rice, who is contracted until the summer of 2024, will put pen to paper on a new deal before the start of the new season which gets underway on August 5.
“Any new deal though may include a release clause for Rice, with the Hammers softening their approach in negotiations to make a new deal is signed.”
The Rice to Chelsea talk was already boring before this summer.
Now it looks like we to suffer another two months of it. But West Ham fans know the truth.