West Ham considering Rice swap deal

West Ham considering Rice swap deal by Gonzo

Numerous national media sources are reporting that West Ham United have named their price for Declan Rice and it’s a whopping £120m.

The Hammers captain has done his value no harm at all with his performances this season despite the teams patchy form.

However it’s not the British record transfer fee that caught my attention in the report from Sky Sports. Buried somewhere in the article is a claim that The Hammers would consider a part exchange or an up front fee of £120m.

Quite where the story originated is anyone’s guess but I find it difficult to imagine that West Ham would leak such a thing without having a player in mind.

Had the report have come from an obscure website then I probably wouldn’t pay too much attention to it. But when Sky and the Evening Standard both run the the same story it does have the whiff of validity.

For too long it has appeared Arsenal had a clear run on Declan’s services. It’s difficult to believe that remains the case given his recent form, particularly against the Premier League heavyweights like Arsenal & Manchester United.

The plot thickens even more with rumours circulating that Jude Bellingham is close to signing an agreement with Spanish giants Real Madrid. That deal would surely make Declan the most coveted midfield option to all of the big clubs so perhaps the fee isn’t so ridiculous.

As for the identity of the mysterious swap player? Your guess is as good as mine I’m afraid, but it won’t stop me perusing the squad lists of all the main Premier League protagonists.