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Man United told which club 23-year-old PL midfielder wishes to join amid transfer links

Declan Rice in action for West Ham United. (GETTY Images)
Declan Rice in action for West Ham United. (GETTY Images)

West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice prefers Chelsea transfer over Manchester United despite Blues turmoil

According to the Evening Standard, West Ham United star Declan Rice is said to prefer a move to Chelsea over Manchester United in the event he departs the London Stadium this summer, despite the current turmoil at Stamford Bridge.

Rice has been one of West Ham’s standout performers over the past couple of seasons, linking the defence and attack for his team as he puts in consistently brilliant performances for the side in the middle of the park.

Once a member of Chelsea’s academy, the player was released from the club before the Hammers signed him, and since then, he has been an integral part of David Moyes’ team as they punch above their weight in the Premier League as well as the Europa League.

Declan Rice prefers a move to Chelsea over Manchester United. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Declan Rice prefers a move to Chelsea over Manchester United. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

His displays have caught the attention of the Blues and the Red Devils, who are looking for midfield reinforcements over the summer to bolster their squads ahead of the new season. United, in particular, will be looking to sign Rice, given their poor midfield showings this term.

Return to Stamford Bridge?

Although the West Ham board are keen on retaining the Englishman, they do not expect him to agree on a fresh deal and are resigned to losing him. In the event that the player seeks a move at the end of the season, the midfielder would prefer a return to his boyhood club, Chelsea.

This news comes despite the fact that the Stamford Bridge side are unable to buy players after the UK government sanctioned club owner Roman Abramovich. Even if there arises a situation where the Russian is able to sell his club, it is unclear what the Blues’ transfer plans will be under a new owner.

West Ham United are resigned to losing Declan Rice in the summer.
West Ham United are resigned to losing Declan Rice in the summer.

The interest around Rice is hardly surprising, given that his performances on the pitch for the London side have propelled him to international stardom as well, with the midfielder now a key member of the midfield for the England national team, where he nearly led them to a Euro 2020 final trophy last summer.

The 23-year-old has also proven his leadership skills while at the London Stadium, often taking over the armband from the ageing Mark Noble as he leads the team out in multiple competitions and makes sure his performances do the talking for him on the pitch.

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The midfield has long been a problem for United, with hardly any big names or capable players consistently performing day in and day out for the team. Fred, Scott McTominay, and Nemanja Matic have all been underwhelming in the middle of the pitch on occasions, and so a midfield reinforcement is something we would be wise to pursue- especially with Paul Pogba’s contract situation.

The news about Rice’s Chelsea preference will come as a blow to us, but given the recent uncertainty around the club, it is not known how long it is before the crisis dies down in west London. As things stand, they are unable to sign any new players, so in that respect, we certainly seem to have the lead in securing the Englishman’s signature in the summer.

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