The board have put on a public front that Declan Rice is not for sale at any price, even though Manuel Pellegrini hinted every player has a valuation, but Football Insider are now reporting otherwise.
They are claiming that a source from within the London Stadium has told them we will, in fact, sanction Rice’s sale, potentially even this summer, providing the interested party match our ‘goldmine’ figure.
The fee being claimed would easily make the now-England international our record export, usurping the £25million Marseille paid for Dimitri Payet, with Rice said to be valued at £70million.
That figure will only go up next season if he is not sold, and continues to develop at the rate he currently is. Unfortunately, if the behind-the-scenes talk on Rice is that the club will accept £70m, Manchester United may come sniffing.
“He’s young, hungry and a brilliant player, who is only going to get better,” the source is quoted as saying. “We know we’re sitting on a £70million goldmine in Declan, and that could turn out to be a conservative value if he continues to progress like he has done in the last two seasons.”
The Red Devils have been heavily linked with a move for our midfield anchor, and were recently tipped to make a move for him in the summer, as their Champions League exit to Barcelona highlighted a need to rebuild.
The only price that has gone with their interest, though, was £40m and £50million, which we would seemingly, and thankfully, reject.