Chelsea remain favourites to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice.

Chelsea are best positioned to sign Declan Rice as he enters the final 18 months of his West Ham contract.

With the midfielder having rejected three offers to extend his stay at London Stadium, a battle for his signature is set to re-commence between the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City as we approach the January transfer window. The Premier League trio have registered interest in recent years, but it's the Blues who remain ahead in the race to sign him.

The Athletic says the 23-year-old's affiliation with Stamford Bridge is well documented, having spent the best part of a decade at the club as a youngster before being released aged 14.

It's claimed that Rice, who turns 24 in January, has no desire to sign a new deal with the Irons - although the club can trigger a one-year extension until June 2025 - and he's desperate to play Champions League football, an ambition which he outlined during the World Cup