World Cup star Weston McKennie would snub West Ham boss David Moyes for ‘more prestigious’ Spurs or Chelsea a new report claims.
Declan Rice’s West Ham future has been the subject of much debate and incessant speculation for the last two years with boyhood club Chelsea long mooted as his destination of choice.
West Ham insiders have claimed for some time that the Hammers have privately agreed to sell their midfield talisman in the summer. That situation is undoubtedly being closely monitored by Chelsea and the club’s new consortium headed up by Todd Boehly.
According to longstanding reports, Juventus and USA midfielder McKennie is the man West Ham have targeted as Rice’s eventual replacement (BeSoccer, Tuttosport, The Times).
But fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur have also been heavily linked with the tigerish and pacy star.
Last week Hammers News brought word from Italy that West Ham and Spurs target McKennie could be available for just £10m in January as Juventus look to avoid capital loss.
Moyes allegedly turned down the chance to sign Yves Bissouma in the summer with the Mali international ending up at Tottenham instead. That is reportedly because McKennie is the man the Scot has identified as Rice’s heir.
Spurs also reportedly beat West Ham to the likes of Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie. Antonio Conte and Moyes had a shared interest in trying to sign Filip Kostic and Nikola Milenkovic too.
West Ham are arguably more desperately in need of a new central midfielder than Spurs. But Chelsea – given their much-publicised interest in Rice – are clearly in the market for a new star in the heart of their team as well.
The likes of Bournemouth and Aston Villa have also been linked with McKennie.
And it seems Moyes may be fighting a losing battle to bring the USA international to West Ham.
Because World Cup star McKennie would snub West Ham boss Moyes for ‘more prestigious’ Spurs or Chelsea a new report claims.
According to Italian reporter Gianluca Di Marzio and Football Italia, McKennie has his sights set on a move to Tottenham or Chelsea rather than a ‘less prestigious’ club such as West Ham, Villa or Bournemouth.
Whether Chelsea would deem McKennie good enough to help reach their lofty aims remains to be seen.
But as reports have stated for some time Conte and Tottenham are certainly interested.
So West Ham will face a really challenge if they want to persuade him to snub Spurs for the London Stadium. The woeful season the Hammers are enduring won’t help either with the club only outside the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference.
If Chelsea did look to sign the Juve outcast, that could be good news for West Ham fans who don’t want to see Rice end up at Stamford Bridge.
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