West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has grown into being one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League.

The former Chelsea starlet left Chelsea for the Hammers at age 14, where he developed his game into being a top midfield player.

Now 23, Rice is being eyed by Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.

Rice is valued at over £100m by West Ham, and journalist Alex Cook claims he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Rice ended up at boyhood club Chelsea and also reunite with best friend Mason Mount.

Crook told Jim White and Simon Jordan on talkSPORT: “It wouldn’t surprise him if he ends up at Chelsea in the long haul.

“People feel that he might have a bit of unfinished business there, possibly similar to Nathan Ake – it looks like he will be on his way back to Stamford Bridge from Man City.

“We know about his friendship with Mason Mount.

“Simon [Jordan] will probably tell you that that doesn’t really come into play when players pick their new clubs, but they do have a really strong bond.

“I think Declan Rice will give West Ham one more year.

“I think there’s almost a gentleman’s agreement that he will do that… although we know they don’t mean much in football from the Harry Kane saga last summer.

“I expect him to leave next summer and if Chelsea are a Champions League club, if they finish in the top four as I would expect them to, I think they’ll be right there knocking on West Ham’s door.”