'Very well-connected' - Journalist reveals what Jim White 'told' him about WHUFC's Declan Rice

Journalist Alex Crook has been speaking on TalkSport about how much West Ham United would be willing to sell Declan Rice for this summer.

It has been well reported that Rice has several clubs admiring him from afar, however, a £150m price tag is seemingly putting everyone off, with the midfielder looking set to stay at the London Stadium for another campaign.

It will be a major boost for West Ham’s hopes of qualifying for Europe and potentially lifting some silverware this season if Rice is to be sticking around – though any bid around the reported £150m they’d receive would certainly soften the blow.

Crook was asked on TalkSport what he thinks the future looks like for Rice. He said: “I don’t think so. Jim White, very well-connected at West Ham, told me last week that it would take a bid of £150m to prise Declan Rice away this summer. I don’t see Chelsea coming to the table with that sort of money.”

TIF Thoughts on Rice’s future…

It’s obvious that West Ham know Rice is a wanted man in the transfer market, having offered him a lucrative eight-year contract, although it was swiftly rejected by the midfielder and his representatives.

Unless West Ham can crack into the top four this season, it appears almost inevitable that Rice will be leaving the London Stadium at some point in the future given he’s an England international and will be looking to continue his upward trajectory – and if the Hammers can’t match his ambitions, he will surely be looking to leave.

But for now, it seems West Ham are standing firm and will only allow the midfielder to leave for a record fee, which is perhaps an understandable stance as they seek to maintain their position in the upper section of the Premier League table.

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