West Ham 'to demand Jude Bellingham fee' for Arsenal and Chelsea target Declan Rice

West Ham will demand a Jude Bellingham-style fee for Arsenal and Chelsea target Declan Rice, it has been reported.

Bellingham, who is perhaps the most sought-after midfielder in world football, has been tipped to move to Real Madrid this summer, despite reported interest from Manchester City and Liverpool.

Indeed, the La Liga giants are keen to deal for Bellingham, who has reportedly been valued by Borussia Dortmund at around €150million (£131.8m). Though as yet an agreement has not been reached.

Should the 19-year-old, who has scored 11 goals in 40 appearances this term, complete a transfer in the close season it would likely be the most expensive move of the summer window.

However, a fresh Telegraph report has claimed West Ham will benchmark the transfer fee that is paid for Bellingham when it comes to negotiating the sale of Rice this summer.

Rice’s transfer fee

While there is reportedly an acceptance at West Ham that Rice will leave the Premier League club this summer, the Hammers are determined to drive as high a price as possible.

The club have not yet set a fee for the 24-year-old and are allegedly taking a keen interest in how much his England team-mate Bellingham will cost should he leave Dortmund.

While Real Madrid are hoping to pay less than the £131million being discussed, arguing that Dortmund should sell because Bellingham wants to join them, the Bundesliga club will look for as large a fee as possible.

Dortmund have offered Bellingham a contract extension in the hope of keeping the teenager for at least another season, but it is understood he does not want to sign.

Should Bellingham's fee be as high as the number touted West Ham will allegedly claim Rice should go for the same price, though it is unlikely any team would bid such an amount.

Arsenal are the club most likely to sign the defensive midfielder, though they allegedly value him at just £70million.

And given Rice expects to leave West Ham in the summer, the Hammers may have to come to a compromise on the player’s transfer fee. Rice has just a year left on his contract though there is an option for a further 12 months – which West Ham can take up.

However, Rice wants to move to a club playing in the Champions League and West Ham are said to accept his departure is pretty much inevitable at the end of the season.

Topics: Football, Arsenal, Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid, Declan Rice, West Ham United, Premier League, Transfers

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.