West Ham want to sign a replacement for Declan Rice before the midfielder is sold this summer, with Fulham’s Joao Palhinha and Ajax’s Edson Alvarez both leading targets.
Rice played his final game for the club in last week’s Europa Conference League Final triumph over Fiorentina, with chairman David Sullivan since confirming the 24-year-old will be granted his wish to move on and play Champions League football.
David Moyes would like to avoid a summer-long transfer saga as he plans for next season but West Ham are in no rush to sell and are happy to let a bidding war between the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich unfold in the hope of securing around £100million for Rice.
The fact that Rice is not due to report back in time for July’s pre-season tour to Australia further removes the need for urgency, with West Ham set to head Down Under without a host of first-team stars who will be given an extended break following this month’s internationals.
In the meantime, the Irons are set to step up their hunt for Rice’s midfield successor. Palhinha enjoyed an outstanding first season in English football after joining Fulham in a £20m move from Sporting last summer.
Fulham would more than double their money were they to sell but the club are reluctant to lose one of their star players, particularly as keeping the 27-year-old is viewed as pivotal to the chances of manager Marco Silva extending his own deal.
Alvarez, meanwhile, will leave Ajax this summer after the Dutch side missed out on Champions League qualification by finishing third in the Eredivisie.
The Mexican was the subject of a failed £43m bid from Chelsea late last summer but West Ham hope to agree a lower fee, though Borussia Dortmund are also reported to be interested as they eye a replacement for the Real Madrid-bound Jude Bellingham.
Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse also remains a firm target for West Ham, though he is not seen as a direct Rice replacement and would instead come in to provide midfield competition for Tomas Soucek. The Hammers are also looking to take advantage of Leicester’s relegation with a move for winger Harvey Barnes.
