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Chelsea FC to launch offer for West Ham star Declan Rice to complete summer overhaul at Stamford Bridge

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Getty Images

Chelsea are preparing a bid for West Ham's Declan Rice in the final week of the transfer window.

The transfer window for deals between Premier League clubs closes a week today, with Frank Lampard keen to continue addressing his problems in defence.

The Blues left themselves a mountain to climb on Saturday when defensive errors from Marcos Alonso and new signing Thiago Silva leaving them 3-0 down inside half an hour at West Brom.

Lampard has already added Ben Chilwell and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as well as Silva, but has long been an admirer of Rice - though West Ham insist he is not for sale, with manager David Moyes having warned it would take "bank of England" money for a deal to take place.

"Declan is extremely happy," said Hammers assistant Alan Irvine, who took charge of Sunday night's 4-0 win in Moyes's absence following his positive test for coronavirus.

"He was captain today, he is not somebody with other things on his mind."

After a sluggish start to the season, Rice excelled at the heart of midfield for West Ham last night as, despite Moyes being restricted to working from home, the Hammers put four past Wolves and kept a clean sheet at home for the first time since New Year's Day to claim their first points of the season.

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