West Ham United will use Jude Bellingham's expected transfer from Borussia Dortmund as a reference point when handling offers for the Liverpool-linked Declan Rice.
The Hammers are said to be resigned to losing their club captain, whose current deal at the London Stadium expires in the summer of 2024, and who has been linked with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea as well as the Reds.
According to the Telegraph, one-time Liverpool target Bellingham, who is looking increasingly likely to join Real Madrid, will be the benchmark for West Ham when negotiations begin over the sale of Rice.
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"The issue for West Ham is that Rice now expects to leave so, clearly, they may have to compromise but will still cite the Bellingham deal," writes Jason Burt. "Rice has one year left on his contract with an option for a further 12 months, which West Ham can take up. Although this would appear to put West Ham in a stronger negotiating position, that will have to be set against Rice’s determination to leave. It is likely West Ham will insist he stays.
"Rice wants to move to a club playing in the Champions League to help him fulfil his ambitions, with West Ham accepting his departure is pretty much inevitable at the end of this campaign."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted he will have funds to spend this summer. But he has hinted that players in Bellingham and Rice's stratosphere could prove too costly..
"We cannot have six players [and] everyone is for £100million. That’s kind of clear," said Klopp. "You have to realise what you can do and then have to work with that. How much money we have available and then you have to work with that
"We are not children asking a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they tell you: ‘I want a Ferrari’. You wouldn’t say that’s a good idea, you’d say it’s too expensive and anyway you cannot drive it. If this kid spent his whole life because he cannot get a Ferrari then it would be a sad life.
"It’s just what you can do and then you do it and work with that. Nothing else to say. That’s always how I work. What we need and what we want, we’ll try absolutely everything to get it but there are moments that you have to accept these are not possible for us, step aside and do different stuff."
Earlier this year, the Independent cited Liverpool as one of the Premier League clubs interested in Rice. But it has since emerged, as reported by the ECHO last month, that the Reds are looking to undertake a more sustainable approach to their midfield rebuild this summer.
Therefore it remains to be seen what potential impact Rice's transfer could have on the market with Liverpool sounding out moves for Mason Mount and Alexis Mac Allister. Ryan Gravenberch and Manuel Ugarte have been mentioned as potential alternatives.
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