West Ham are likely to reject an opening bid of £45m from Chelsea for midfielder Declan Rice, according to the Sun.
Blues boss Frank Lampard is reportedly keen to recruit the 21-year-old as he looks to reshape his backline but the Hammers are believed to be sticking to their £70m asking price.
There are, though, a couple of conditions which may see Rice’s valuation lowered. Were West Ham to be relegated this season, the Irons would need to free up funds to compensate for the loss in revenue.
With the London club also suffering with the financial impact of the global health crisis, they could be forced to sell one of their key assets for a reduced fee.
However, at the moment, it appears that West Ham will not consider such a low offer for Rice, and it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will keep their counsel, or if they will look to return with a significantly improved offer in the coming weeks.
