We’ve got a bargain price — Wyatt Cyprien to Newcastle — and one that could hardly be described as anything near a discount — Declan Rice to Chelsea — in our Premier League transfer rumors for Friday.
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Chelsea’s opening offer to West Ham was about what it paid Leicester City for Ben Chilwell. West Ham is reportedly asking a touch more than the English record Manchester United paid the Foxes for Harry Maguire.
In related news, Leicester knows how to maximize its profits on Three Lions players.
Rice to Chelsea
Declan Rice wants to go home again.
The West Ham midfielder and former Chelsea youth has agreed terms with the Blues on a five-year deal as Frank Lampard aims to buy Rice.
The Express reports that Chelsea has so far offered $57 million to West Ham, who wants about $102 million for the 21-year-old.
Chelsea has already spent more than $300 million this summer after last summer’s transfer ban cost them any new additions.
Rice would join Edouard Mendy, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, and Kai Havertz as big money buys by the Blues in 2020.
Only eight defensive midfielders are ranked higher in value by Transfermarkt: Rodri, Joshua Kimmich, Casemiro, Fabinho, Jorginho, Ruben Neves, and Marcelo Brozovic.
He could become the sixth most expensive English player in history if he costs any more than the $58 million price tag slapped on Chilwell.
That… is something.
Most expensive English player transfers (Transfermarkt)
- Harry Maguire, Leicester -> Man Utd, $101 million
- Raheem Sterling, Liverpool -> Man City, $74 million
- John Stones, Everton -> Man City, $65 million
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Palace -> Man Utd, $64 million
- Kyle Walker, Spurs -> Man City, $61 million
- Ben Chilwell, Leicester -> Chelsea, $58 million
West Ham has to get a huge figure for Rice, especially if the player is sold to a crosstown rival. The Irons have already faced criticism for failures in the transfer market and the sale of Grady Diangana to West Brom had captain Mark Noble speaking publicly about his displeasure.
There are also rumors that David Moyes’ targets are too rich and the players being offered the selective Scot are not up to his standards. Maybe the Rice money allows Moyes to get “one of his own” but that’s a significant risk for a man who’s yet to prove he’s an upgrade on Manuel Pellegrini.
Cyprien to Newcastle
Newcastle United’s biggest hole is in the center of the park and the Magpies are again being linked with Nice’s Wylan Cyprien.
Bordeaux is said to be leading the race for the 25-year-old who is out-of-contract at the end of the season and said to be available for a $12 million price tag which would not put off the Magpies.
Cyprien has 23 goals and 12 assists in 127 league outings for Nice, who is coached by Arsenal legend and former NYCFC boss Patrick Vieira.
He is an excellent passer who doesn’t mind a shot and is strong on set pieces, scoring seven times last season. That’s one off his career-best in Ligue 1 goals set in 2016-17.
It’s a report Newcastle fans will probably hope to speak into existence.