West Ham tipped to sign ‘perfect’ Declan Rice replacement for ‘£50m’ after ‘enormous’ update
West Ham should sell Declan Rice this summer and replace him with Kalvin Phillips.
That’s according to former Hammers hitman Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about a possible transfer plan the club could follow.
A Hammers source told Football Insider on Monday (21 March) the club are preparing to make a fresh bid for Phillips, 26, this summer.
The Irons are planning to offer an enormous salary to the player as well as more than £50m to Leeds as they look to make a signing that can cement the club in the top six.
On 22 March, The Daily Mail reported West Ham are prepared to demand £150million for Rice, 22, this summer.
McAvennie admits he doesn’t want to see Rice leave the club but suggested Phillips could be the perfect replacement.
“How much will Leeds want for Phillips? £50million?” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“That’s the deal to do, for me. If Rice is going to go, then Phillips is the perfect replacement.
“You could sell Rice for £100million, there is no way he will go for £150million.
“But it’s all about trophies these days and there are other clubs who are better placed than West Ham to win them.
“So if he goes, we can get a lot of money for him. Then we pay a bit less to get Phillips.
“That deal makes so much sense to me. Though it is worth pointing out i don’t want to lose Rice at all.”
Phillips has two years remaining on his Whites contract and talks over an extension have failed to progress.
He is valued by Leeds at between £60-70million.
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