Declan Rice Next Club Odds: Will The West Ham Captain Seal A Move In The Summer?
The Premier League’s biggest clubs are competing to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice after he revealed a desire to play in the Champions League.
betting sites are offering odds on who will capture his signature before the summer transfer window slams shut on September 4, 2023.
Arsenal are the favourites to snap him up, but they could face fierce competition from Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Man City.
Rice has established himself as one of the finest holding midfielders in the business following a string of commanding displays for West Ham and England over the past couple of years.
He is just 24 years of age and his contract runs until 2025, so it would probably take a bid of at least £100m for the Hammers to sanction a sale.
Yet it is always difficult to hold onto a wantaway star, and Rice has made no secret of his ambitions to leave the club.
“One hundred percent, I want to play in the Champions League,” he said during a press conference earlier this season.
“You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.”
These are the leading contenders to seal a blockbuster move for the talented midfielder this year.
Arsenal
The Gunners have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Rice after surging to the top of the Premier League table.
Rice was full of praise for Mikel Arteta’s men during his post-match interview after the Hammers suffered a comprehensive defeat at the Emirates earlier in the campaign.
Reports now suggest that he favours a move to Arsenal ahead of Chelsea this summer, as he believes Arteta can help him unlock his full potential.
The Spanish coach drew praise for his work with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane during his time as Pep Guardiola’s right-hand man at Man City.
He has worked wonders with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka since taking over as Arsenal manager, burnishing his reputation for improving players.
Xhaka is in the form of his life in the Arsenal midfield, and Rice is reportedly keen to benefit from Arteta’s tutelage too.
Thomas Partey is 29 and Xhaka is 30, so it is easy to see why Arsenal are interested in bringing Rice to the Emirates.
He is said to be the club’s top target this summer, and the Gunners are reportedly optimistic about their chances of winning the race for his signature.
They are now the 7/4 favourites with football betting sites to wrap up a deal for Rice before September 4.
Man Utd
Signing Rice would represent a major coup for Erik ten Hag, as Man Utd’s transfer plans sees them attempting to rebuild the team with energetic youngsters.
Casemiro has seriously bolstered their midfield after signing from Real Madrid in the summer, but the 30-year-old Brazilian international is not a long-term solution.
Rice only just turned 24 in January, and he could lead the United midfield for the next eight or nine years if ten Hag can persuade him to move to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are currently on course to secure a place in the Premier League’s top four, which could bolster their chances of luring Rice to the Theatre of Dreams if the succeed in qualifying for the Champions League.
They can certainly afford to compete with any club on a financial basis, having signed Antony for £85m from Ajax last summer, and they could meet his wage demands.
The chance to link up with international teammates such as Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw could be an attractive prospect for Rice, so Man Utd are now the 3/1 second favourites for his signature.
Chelsea
Rice spent seven years learning his trade as a member of Chelsea’s academy before the club decided to release him in 2014.
Their loss was West Ham’s gain, as the Hammers quickly brought the prodigiously talented 14-year-old to East London, where he continued his development.
The rest is history: Rice broke into the Hammers’ first team at the age of 18, and he is now the youngest captain in the Premier League, with a valuation “north of £150m”, according to Moyes.
Chelsea have spent the last few years trying to correct their mistake, but they have been constantly rebuffed in their efforts to sign him.
Rice seems settled in London and he remains good friends with Chelsea players such as Mason Mount, so Stamford Bridge has always seemed the most likely destination for him.
However, the Blues have drifted out to 4/1 with Paddy Power to sign him, leaving them behind Arsenal and United in the betting.
The club’s transfer dealings have been a little chaotic, with 14 new players joining Chelsea this season following a £400m spending spree.
Graham Potter’s future as manager is uncertain, and the Blues could face Financial Fair Play restrictions, so they have fallen behind their rivals in this race.
Liverpool
Liverpool are next in the betting at 9/1 with Betfair in the betting to bolster their struggling midfield with the West Ham skipper this year.
Fabinho has excelled for the past five years in the Reds’ engine room, but his form has started to wane, while Jordan Henderson also appears to be on his last legs.
Jurgen Klopp is desperate for reinforcements, and Liverpool have been linked with several stars.
However, they would be hard pressed to find a better option than Rice to tighten things up in the middle of the park.
Their chances may be hampered if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season, as Rice has made it clear that he is determined to test himself at the highest level.
Yet the Reds can point to a seriously impressive record in Europe’s top competition, having reached the final in three of the past five seasons.
Klopp needs to rebuild his team, and Rice may be swayed by the prospect of leading the club into a new era, so they remain interesting contenders in this market.
The number of sports with in-play betting available
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
The number of sports with in-play betting available
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
The number of sports with in-play betting available
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
The Rest
You can find odds of 7/2 on Rice staying at West Ham this year, but that looks unlikely after he expressed his determination to move on.
He reportedly made a gentleman’s agreement with the club last summer to stay for one more season before moving on, and it would therefore be difficult for the Hammers to keep hold of him.
The top four contenders are Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool, and Newcastle are next in the betting at 10/1.
The club’s Saudi owners are splashing the cash like Roman Abramovich circa 2004 in a bid to gate-crash the Big Six, and the Magpies are currently in the hunt for a Champions League berth - so they are realistic candidates in this market.
Man City appear to be well stocked in midfield, but they have a habit of seizing the most talented English players, so they are 14/1 with betting apps.
PSG are next in the betting at 25/1 to take Rice to Paris, while Spurs are outsiders at 33/1 to claim West Ham’s prize asset.
Stay In The Loop With Free Bets, Insider Tips & More!
Live Betting. Sports Promos. Sent Weekly.
