Anderson sale to give West Ham extra funds for Rice contract

James Holland
Declan Rice West Ham F365

West Ham’s sale of Felipe Anderson will free up wages for a new Declan Rice contract, according to a report.

Rice, 22, has become one of the Hammers’ most important players in recent seasons.

His dominant midfield displays last term were a major reason for the club’s Europa League qualification.


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Rice also followed in the footsteps of some of the Premier League’s best players by captaining his team at a young age.

According to The Sun, Brazilian winger Anderson will soon rejoin Lazio and most of the remaining wages will be offered to Rice.

West Ham are attempting to ward off interest from the top six, including Chelsea and Manchester United, as they view Rice as an ideal signing.

He was heavily linked with Chelsea during Frank Lampard’s tenure at Stamford Bridge.

The report states that Rice has already rejected two substantial offers from the club. He supposedly wants a major pay rise to represent his impact on the team.

And the Hammers could finally reach that sum due to the sale of Anderson. The winger earns a reported £85,000 a week but was loaned out to Porto last season.

He is on the verge of joining Lazio in a £5million deal. That would represent a loss of around £37m for the London club, although it will be worth it if their star midfielder signs a contract extension.

Hammers boss David Moyes has previously shrugged off rumours that Rice could leave.

He set the Englishman’s price tag at over £100m in March: “I don’t agree with the owners that Declan Rice is a £100million footballer. Far, far more than £100m. Far more.

“I look at the players who have joined some clubs from overseas and come in and nowhere near had the impact Declan Rice would have.

“I certainly wouldn’t put a price on it. You can decide which figure you want to put on it but I wouldn’t be sanctioning anything like that, that’s for sure.”

Rice made seven appearances at Euro 2020 as England reached the final for the first time.

He was solid against Italy at Wembley but the Three Lions were ultimately beaten 3-2 on penalties.

The player’s current West Ham deal expires in June 2024.