DECLAN RICE reportedly has a gentleman’s agreement with West Ham to stay for ONE more season amid serious transfer interest from Chelsea.
The 23-year-old England international has impressed since making his 2017 debut against Burnley.
A number of top Premier League clubs have been tracking Rice, including the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.
However, the Hammers have put a £150million price tag on their captain, despite Rice turning a new mega deal down.
But according to talkSPORT, Rice has a gentleman’s agreement with West Ham to stay for one more season ahead of a potential Summer 2023 exit.
And journalist Alex Cook claims he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Rice ended up at boyhood club Chelsea.
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Rice played in Chelsea’s academy up until his 2014 release.
The move could also be influenced by his friendship with Blues midfielder Mason Mount.
Crook told Jim White and Simon Jordan on talkSPORT: “It wouldn’t surprise him if he ends up at Chelsea in the long haul.
“People feel that he might have a bit of unfinished business there, possibly similar to Nathan Ake – it looks like he will be on his way back to Stamford Bridge from Man City.
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“We know about his friendship with Mason Mount.
“Simon [Jordan] will probably tell you that that doesn’t really come into play when players pick their new clubs, but they do have a really strong bond.
“I think Declan Rice will give West Ham one more year.
“I think there’s almost a gentleman agreement that he will do that… although we know they don’t mean much in football from the Harry Kane saga last summer.
“I expect him to leave next summer and if Chelsea are a Champions League club, if they finish in the top four as I would expect them to, I think they’ll be right there knocking on West Ham’s door.”
West Ham are bolstering their midfield options ahead of a potential Rice exit last summer.
Flynn Downes was pinched from Swansea for £12m, with the player a boyhood Hammers fan.
Downes, 23, had the highest pass completion rate across England’s top-four leagues.
West Ham have also seen a second bid rejected for Lille midfielder Amadou Onana.
