Report: Chelsea willing to pay £45m for Declan Rice, Lampard wants West Ham star at centre-back

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West Ham United midfielder, Declan Rice, is being courted by Chelsea manager Frank Lampard this summer as the Blues boss looks to sign the Hammers star. 

According to an exclusive report from the Sun, Chelsea could be set to launch a £45m move for the England man.

And it is claimed that Lampard sees Rice as the man he wants to build his defence around, with the report claiming Rice could be deployed as the central defender in a three at the back system for the Blues.

Rice has, once again, been the standout performer for the Hammers this season. However, relegation remains a real threat for the club, which is why the £45m tag could well be tempting if they do indeed go down.

Previous mentions of a potential move for Rice have seen figures around the £80m mark quoted. Indeed, at the back end of 2019, the Daily Star claimed West Ham had slapped that figure on their man.

It seems unlikely, then, that £45m will cut it if David Moyes can keep the Hammers in the league.

A man in-demand who West Ham have to keep, but impossible if relegated – TBR View

Chelsea are looking to make a serious splash this summer. It’s so obvious what Lampard is doing. The signings of Ziyech and Werner underline the vision he has for the club.

It’s little surprise, then, to see Rice now being touted.

However, West Ham are a big club in their own right. Yes, they’ve struggled this season but they have some fantastic talent in the squad that just needs maximising.

Of course, Rice is one of the best players on the books. Lampard, too, is a known fan, describing Rice as a ‘fantastic’ talent during a previous interview about the youngster.