David Moyes has insisted Declan Rice will not be leaving West Ham United over the January transfer window despite strong interest from Chelsea.
The 23-year-old midfielder has just over 18 months remaining on his contract with the Hammers and is understood to be reluctant over signing an extension. West Ham understandably want to keep hold of the England international but may find it difficult this summer when there could be 12 months remaining on his deal.
Moyes, when speaking before West Ham's clash with Brentford on Friday evening, has insisted that Rice will not be leaving the London Stadium next month. "There will be no chance Declan leaves in this window if that's what you are talking about," Moyes told reporters.
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Chelsea have a long-term interest in Rice, who left the club when he was a teenager following being released from the academy, but there is a feeling a move in the summer makes far more sense than in January. West Ham will be determined to keep him at least until the end of the campaign and Chelsea know he will be available for a cheaper price when the summer transfer window comes around.
Rice recently confessed that he still dreams of playing Champions League football and hinted at a bit of jealousy he has of his England teammates who are doing so. West Ham are currently down in 16th place after a poor start to the Premier League season, so European football at the London Stadium seems unrealistic – at the time of writing – next term.
"One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League," Rice said while on World Cup duty with England earlier in the month. "For the last two or three years I've been saying that.
"I've been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you've won and the biggest names you've played in."
Chelsea are expected to revisit the Rice situation in the summer, but are also keeping an eye out for other targets. His England teammate Jude Bellingham is also wanted by the Blues but right now, Real Madrid and Liverpool are ahead in the race to sign the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
A move for Rice or Bellingham – if indeed they do come to fruition – would be in the summer transfer window. However, Chelsea are looking to sign a top-class central midfielder next month and have a few names on their radar.
Edson Alvarez of Ajax remains a target for the club, months after a £43million offer was turned down by the Dutch club. The Mexican wanted the move back then and sources close to the player have told football.london that he remains keen on making the switch to west London next month.
News that has broke in the past 24 hours is that Chelsea are willing to activate Enzo Fernandez's £105m release clause in his contract at Benfica. football.london understands representatives from Chelsea have informed the Portuguese club of their intentions.
So a move for Rice has been ruled out for next month. But that was never expected to be the case, anyway. However, it's definitely one to keep an eye on in the summer.
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