Rice ‘not making demands to leave West Ham’ despite Chelsea and United interest

Declan Rice has returned to West Ham training and is reportedly not demanding a transfer away from the club despite interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.

United are eyeing the midfielder, but they face competition from the Blues who want to get him back on their books having released him from their academy when he was 14.

The England international has reportedly turned down the offer of improved terms and an extension to his West Ham contract twice as he waits to see whether either club firm up their interest.

According to The Telegraph, he is not prepared to force through an exit, having joined his teammates for pre-season on Monday after three weeks off following Euro 2020.

The London Stadium hierarchy are also understood to be relaxed about Rice’s future.

His current deal has three years left to run – with the club holding an option to extend it to 2025 – and there is no pressure on manager David Moyes to sell any of his key players as the Hammers look to build on their brilliant last campaign.

Carlton Cole, who played for both West Ham and Chelsea, believes he is worth the £100m fee demanded by his club following his exceptional displays at Euro 2020 for the Three Lions.

He told talkSPORT last week: “Every time he kicked a ball in the Euros, I was like: ‘His price has gone up!’

“He’s becoming more and more desirable and for me, he’s a top, top player – we all know that at West Ham.

“He’s proved himself there and been under the mentorship of a great West Ham legend in Mark Noble.

“He [Noble] hasn’t had any caps for England but been a great model pro. Rice has been working under his tutelage and learning the ropes in how to be a leader on the pitch.

“He’s got the qualities of a centre-midfielder, but he can play as a centre-back as well. All it is with Declan is that he needs games at the highest level.”