Sources: West Ham willing to agree ‘sensational’ Declan Rice swap deal
West Ham would be willing to swap Declan Rice for Kalvin Phillips plus cash in a sensational summer deal, sources have told Football Insider.
The Londoners face the prospect of losing star man Rice in the main window when he will have just a year left on his contract amid interest from multiple elite Premier League clubs.
Man City are among the teams monitoring Rice’s situation even though they signed his England midfield teammate Phillips in a £45million deal last summer.
Pep Guardiola has publicly criticised Phillips and accused him of returning “overweight” from the World Cup as his dream move turns sour.
By contrast, Rice is West Ham’s outstanding player and the club’s prize asset with a mega-money summer transfer appearing all but certain.
One intriguing prospect would be a player plus cash exchange for a top-class proven Premier League star.
Football Insider revealed earlier this week (1 January) that the Irons have reignited their interest in Phillips following his Guardiola dressing down.
Manager David Moyes is a big admirer of the former Leeds United star and West Ham were linked with a £50m bid for him last January.
Phillips has played just 57 minutes of club football since joining City – having missed a substantial portion of this season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
The ex-Leeds star signed a six-year deal at the Etihad Stadium which runs until 2028.
Meanwhile, Rice has started every Premier League game for West Ham this term and was in the starting eleven for each of England’s outings at the World Cup in Qatar.
Man City sit second in the Premier League table – five points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Moyes’ Irons side sit 17th – outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.
In other news, medical expert issues “four-month” Kurt Zouma reveal after West Ham latest.