West Ham transfer news: Club want Jude Bellingham-style money for Declan Rice
By Jason Burt, Chief Football Correspondent
The club are resigned to the fact that their captain will leave in the summer but will be sure to get the best price possible
West Ham United's English midfielder Declan Rice looks on during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the London Stadium, in London on May 7, 2023
Declan Rice is one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe at present
West Ham United will benchmark the transfer fee that is paid for Jude Bellingham when it comes to negotiating the sale of Declan Rice this summer.
There is an acceptance from the Premier League club their 24-year-old captain will leave but they remain determined to drive as high a price as possible.
So far West Ham have not set a fee for Rice and are taking a keen interest on how much his fellow England international Bellingham cost should, as expected, the 19-year-old be sold.
Real Madrid are firm favourites to sign Bellingham – although Manchester City have not completely given up hope – with a fee of up to £130million being discussed. Real are hoping to pay less, arguing that Dortmund should sell because Bellingham wants to join them, but the German club will hold out for as much as possible.
Dortmund have offered Bellingham a contract extension, in the hope of keeping him for one more year, but it is understood he does not want to sign.
Dortmund's Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring his side's sixth goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in Dortmund, Germany
Real Madrid are said to be in pole position to sign Jude Bellingham this summer
If Bellingham’s fee is as high then West Ham will claim Rice should go for a similar price although, as yet, the indications are no team will bid such an amount. Arsenal appear to be Rice’s most likely destination and they are understood to regard a fee of £70million is far more realistic for the midfielder.
The issue for West Ham is that Rice now expects to leave so, clearly, they may have to compromise but will still cite the Bellingham deal. Rice has one year left on his contract with an option for a further 12 months – which West Ham can take up. Although this would appear to put West Ham in a stronger negotiating position that will have to be set against Rice’s determination to leave. It is likely West Ham will insist he stays.
Rice wants to move to a club playing in the Champions League to help him fulfil his ambitions with West Ham accepting his departure is pretty much inevitable at the end of this campaign.
West Ham are likely to reignite their interest in James Ward-Prowse especially, as is almost certain, Southampton are relegated. Ward-Prowse, 28, turned down the chance to join West Ham last summer and is hugely admired by David Moyes.
James Ward-Prowse of Southampton celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Southampton FC at Goodison Park on January 14, 2023 in Liverpool
James Ward-Prowse is a target for West Ham again this summer
West Ham will sit down with their manager when the season ends to discuss his future and also how the club has fared in the transfer market. There is disappointment within the club that despite spending more than £165million last summer it has been such a disappointing campaign.
As Telegraph Sport reported earlier this week, West Ham have certainly not ruled out Moyes staying next season and want to hear the 60-year-old’s plans.
That would amount to a remarkable comeback from Moyes who was close to losing his job before West Ham beat Fulham away last month. With West Ham looking like they will survive the threat of relegation, winning the Europa Conference League will further strengthen his case. Moyes is preparing for the first leg of their semi-final against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.
