Man United and Chelsea set to go head-to-head for £70m rated Premier League midfielder

West Ham United's English midfielder Declan Rice (L) chases Arsenal's English striker Bukayo Saka (R) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Will Oliver / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by WILL OLIVER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United are reportedly set to go head-to-head with domestic rivals Chelsea for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice next summer.

Rice, 22, joined West Ham’s youth academy in 2013 after making the switch from Chelsea.

Since his arrival in the country’s capital, the talented midfielder has climbed his way through the Hammers’ youth ranks before making his senior first-team debut in 2017.

The industrious holding midfielder has already featured in over 120 matches for West Ham and has grown to become a figurehead in David Moyes’ team.

However, according to a recent report from ESPN, West Ham are preparing themselves for a summer bidding war between Chelsea and United as both Premier League giants remain keen on the 22-year-old.

It has been claimed that the Hammers’ hierarchy have slapped a whopping £70m price-tag on Rice and would only be open to allowing him to depart should a bid within that region come in.

ESPN go on to claim that United are unlikely to make any moves during the January transfer window and are instead concentrating on outgoings.

Would you take Rice at Old Trafford? – Let us know in the comments.

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