CHELSEA plan to offer West Ham a swap deal for Declan Rice including Ross Barkley and Michy Batshuayi, according to reports.
The Blues are keen to be reunited with the Hammers star but the East Londoners are reportedly not interested in taking on the rarely used pair.
Rice, 21, came through Chelsea’s academy but was released aged 14 when he signed for the Hammers.
But having been the stand out performer for West Ham this season, his old club will move to sign him again and offer two of their own players in return, according to the Times.
Barkley and Batshuayi have played peripheral roles under Frank Lampard and seem destined to leave Stamford Bridge this summer regardless.
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But the Blues will reportedly offer them to their London rivals in a bid to reduce the sizeable cash amount they would be forced to cough up in a regular transfer for Rice.
However, despite having previously tried to sign Belgian striker Batshuayi, 26, the Hammers are not interested in taking him or Barkley in part-exchange for their best player.
The former Valencia striker has made just 16 Premier League appearances this season scoring once and registering one assist and is mainly limited to cup starts.
Barkley is used slightly more but is still said to be surplus to requirements at the Bridge.
The 26-year-old ex-Everton midfielder has featured slightly more than his Belgian counterpart having registered 20 league appearances bagging one goal and four assists.
Rice is a dead cert for West Ham’s Hammer-of-the-Year award this season.
He scored a screamer in their 3-1 thrashing of Watford at the London Stadium on Friday – all but guaranteeing his side’s Premier League safety.
And the talented midfielder has played every minute of every one of the Irons’ 36 Premier League games this season scoring once and providing two assists.
Despite his outstanding performances at holding midfield for West Ham and England, he played centre-back as a youngster and Lampard is considering using him there if he were to sign for the Blues in a bid to shore up his leaky defence.
Rice recently slotted into the backline during West Ham’s 2-0 home defeat to Wolves just after football came back from lockdown but the Hammers missed him sorely in midfield.
