West Ham ‘willing’ to swap Declan Rice for Manchester City star in player plus cash deal

Manchester City could be handed an opportunity to sign West Ham’s in-demand midfielder Declan Rice this summer, in a sensational player plus cash deal, according to reports.

The England international midfielder has attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs for a number of summers, with Chelsea understood to have been the most interested party in Rice.

However, given the interest in Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez at the Bridge, some are beginning to wonder whether the admiration and interest in Declan Rice has faded – possibly handing an opportunity to some of their Premier League rivals.

That may now open the door for Manchester City, with a new report claiming that the Hammers may be interested in a stunning player plus cash deal involving one of the Premier League champions’ most recent acquisitions.

According to the information of Football Insider, Premier League strugglers West Ham would be willing to swap Declan Rice for Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips, plus a cash sum, during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Rice will soon be entering the final year of his contract at the London Stadium, and with a high valuation on the midfielder, officials at West Ham could opt to cash in with a number of the Premier League’s top sides having been interested in his services for a number of years.

It is reported that among the teams monitoring Declan Rice’s situation at West Ham are Manchester City, despite signing Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United in a £42 million deal just last summer.

West Ham, and particular current manager David Moyes, are known to be big admirers of Phillips, with the Hammers manager revealing last July that his club had bid more than Manchester City’s eventual successful transfer fee back in January 2022.

Manchester City faced West Ham in the opening game of this season’s Premier League campaign, as an Erling Haaland brace on his English top-flight debut secured a 0-2 win for Pep Guardiola’s side on the road.

The two sides meet in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium in March, possibly presenting City officials with a prime opportunity to watch over the talents and abilities of Declan Rice.