Chelsea have been handed a blow ahead of the upcoming transfer window in their pursuit for Declan Rice. West Ham are determined to retain the services of the 23-year-old this summer, according to The Athletic.
However, the report claims that the Hammers have conceded that they will eventually have to sell the England international in the near future. Rice has turned down three contract offers from West Ham to extend his current deal which expires in the summer of 2024, although the David Moyes' side do have the option to extend that by a further 12 months.
Rice, who was released from Cobham at the age of 14, has attracted the attention of Manchester United and Manchester City, too, as per MailOnline. Amid the flurry of interest, Moyes has given his vice-captain with an eye-watering £150m price tag.
READ MORE: New Chelsea owners handed worrying reminder as three Thomas Tuchel decisions gift important win
"The first thing to say is that he is not for sale," the West Ham boss said earlier this month when asked whether the aforementioned sum is feasible. "If you are interested, well, it will be north of that. One hundred was cheap last summer. One hundred and fifty just now would be the minimum, but he is not for sale. What I do know is that it means there are only certain clubs that could even consider it."
Chelsea seemingly face tough competition for Rice's signature amid Thomas Tuchel's mission to bolster his midfield. Regardless of whether the Blues secure their long-term target this summer, next or not all, the new owners will be keen to begin their tenure on the right foot this summer.
Consortiums led by Todd Boehly, Sir Martin Broughton and Steve Pagliuca all remain in contention to take the reins from Roman Abramovich, with a final decision previously expected at the start of this week. And, whoever takes the reins from Roman Abramovich should be proactive and consider spending the £150m touted by Moyes far more astutely.
Raphinha - £25m
According to Fabrizio Romano, there is a release clause in Raphinha's contract that is dependent on where Leeds United finish this season. If Jesse Marsch's side clamber to Premier League survival then the release clause is worth £75m, but if they are relegated to the Championship it is decreased to £25m.
The 25-year-old has featured 30 times for Leeds this season across all competitions, directly contributing towards 13 goals. Raphinha would be an excellent addition to Chelsea's strike force; established international, impactful, his best years are still ahead of him and he lifts fans from seats.
Achraf Hakimi - £56m
The west Londoners lodged an official bid of £56.1m for Achraf Hakimi in June, as reported by Sky Sports, before eventually losing out to Paris Saint-Germain. The Moroccan has since decided that he wants to leave Les Parc des Princes less than 12 months after joining, according to journalist Daniel Riolo on the 'After Foot show' on French radio RMC.
Should Tuchel continue to utilise Reece James' strengths in the '2017 Cesar Azpilicueta role', the Blue could operate Hakimi at wing-back. While there may be more important problems this summer, providing elite cover in this department offers Chelsea a major boost.
Jules Kounde - £60m
Jules Kounde was heavily linked with a move to the Blues last summer and, more recently, in the January transfer window too, but a deal to bring the Sevilla centre-half to Stamford Bridge failed to materialise. With Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set to leave the club when their contracts expire in June, there’s a good chance that Chelsea will reignite their interest in the 22-year-old France international.
It's believed that Kounde is valued between £50m to £60m for his services. His contract with the Spanish giants runs until the summer of 2024. Given his age and his potential it could prove to be a worthwhile investment.
