Manchester City are reportedly not in the running to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice this summer.
Reports in recent days have suggested that Rice has turned down a third contract offer from the Hammers, with his deal due to expire in the summer of 2024.
As a result, Man City have been credited with a transfer interest in the 23-year-old West Ham captain.
The Manchester Evening News have stated that despite links between Pep Guardiola’s side and the 28-time England international, City are not in the hunt to sign Rice. Hammers boss David Moyes has previously stated that while Rice is not for sale, it would take a fee north of £150m to sign him.
In recent years, Rice has been heavily linked with transfer interest from West Ham’s London rivals. Rice was on the books of Chelsea ’s academy between the years of seven and 14 before moving to West Ham. He is also best friends with England teammate Mason Mount.
Since making his debut for England in 2019, Rice has been a regular for the Three Lions, winning 29 caps and scoring twice.
He played in all seven games of England’s run to the final of the 2020 European Championships, starting all seven of them.
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The midfielder has also been instrumental in the Hammers’ run to the Europa League semi-finals this term, scoring three goals in eight appearances in the competition. He started all of Moyes’ side’s first four group games, scoring against both Dinamo Zagreb and Rapid Vienna. Rice has also played in every minute of West Ham’s knockout round matches, scoring in the second leg of the quarter-final win over French side Lyon.
Man City are likely to add to their numbers in midfield in the coming transfer windows. If club captain Fernandinho leaves this summer as he has already hinted at, a replacement is likely to be bought in. Ilkay Gundogan, 31, is also only contracted until next summer.
City are currently on the pursuit of achieving a Champions League and Premier League double. On Tuesday night, they host Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in the first of their two-legged semi-final with the Spanish giants.
They also currently lead the Premier League table with just five league matches remaining, a point clear of title-chasing rivals Liverpool. Pep Guardiola’s side’s final five games of the season come against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Newcastle United, West Ham United ans Aston Villa.
Should City get past Real in the last four of the Champions League, they will face either Liverpool or Villarreal in next month’s final inside the Stade de France just outside Paris.
If City were to reach the final, it would be their second in the competition in as many seasons. Last year, they lost 1-0 in the final against Chelsea in Porto.
