Declan Rice rejects another contract renewal offer; West Ham responds

Declan Rice has rejected a third contract renewal offer from West Ham United but the club have made it clear that the midfielder is going nowhere in the summer.

Several clubs are interested in the English international who the Hammers have slapped a British record £150 million price tag on. His boyhood club Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all been linked to the 23-year-old midfielder and they have been emboldened by his previous refusals to sign an extension with West Ham.

The Hammers offered Rice an eight-year extension worth £200,000-a-week but the midfielder, who wants to play in the UEFA Champions League with a side who are also challenging for league titles, has said no. His current contract runs up in 2025 but West Ham have a clause in the contract to extend it for another year.

They have, however, told the midfielder and his two main suitors Chelsea and Man United that he will not be leaving the club this summer. They have also told Rice and his entourage that they will reopen the negotiations at the end of the summer.

Both Chelsea and Man United are in dire need of midfield reinforcements in the summer, with a squad clearout planned at both clubs. United will be losing Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic in the summer which will leave a gaping hole in their midfield.

Chelsea would lose Jorginho and will see Saul Niguez return to his parent club Atlético de Madrid as they have chosen not to activate their option to buy. Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are also touted with an exit from the club.

Man City are on the periphery of the race but with club captain Fernandinho on his way out and the possible exit of Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, they may choose to make a move for Rice who is only just one of a number of targets unlike Chelsea and Man United.

However, West Ham has sounded a warning to all the clubs that they will not entertain any offers for the midfielder this summer. It is unknown if an offer of £150 million, their official asking price for Ricez will get them to rethink their stance.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to lose £14 million on defender Konstantinos Mavropanos thanks to a shrewd move from West Ham. The Greek defender is currently on loan at German Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart and could help the club avoid relegation at the weekend.

The German club are preparing to activate their option to buy clause of £3 million and Arsenal are prepared to accept the bid. However, West Ham are reportedly readying a £17 million bid for Stuttgart which could see the Gunners lose £14 million on the player.

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