Dean Jones has claimed on the Football Terrace podcast that Chelsea’s long-term transfer target Declan Rice is willing to head out the exit door at West Ham United this summer which will be a major boost for the Blues in their hopes of signing the midfielder.
Rice is currently at the Euros where he has been a regular name on the England teamsheet under Gareth Southgate and his showings in the middle of the pitch have been up to the mark which has further intensified Chelsea’s interest in the Hammers man.
The former Chelsea youth academy product also has Liverpool chasing his signature alongside a couple of other clubs in England as well in Manchester United and Manchester City but it is the west Londoners who are backed to the favourites to sign him.
Jones believes that Rice is leaning towards calling it quits at the London Stadium this summer on the back of his superb campaign for David Moyes’ men last season which helped West Ham clinch a Europa League berth.
Rice is understood to be on the lookout for a right offer coming his way which would convince him to ask for an exit from The Hammers and seek a move elsewhere, according to Jones.
“Yes I spoke to someone over the weekend who knows Declan pretty well and I said to them: ‘Where’s his head at?’
“I’ve always been of the belief that Declan Rice just won’t leave West Ham right now.
“And he said ‘actually you’d be surprised, Rice is leaning towards being very open to leaving if the right offer comes along.
“So that’s interesting in itself. I think Declan Rice realises that this is a fantastic opportunity for him i the form he’s been in, breaking into the England starting XI.
“We often see players make moves when they’re at this point and they know that, in a year’s time, that opportunity could pass them by.
“People who work for Declan Rice have said in the past to the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea that he’s willing to leave London if the right offer is there, the right terms, the right project.
“He’s got his eyes open, with regards to the future.
