Chelsea could inadvertently aid Manchester United in the quest to sign Declan Rice from West Ham this summer.
The England international has seen his stock rise considerably once again this season, having helped David Moyes' side in their unexpected push to earn a top-four finish and the Champions League football that comes with it.
An exit from east London for the former Chelsea academy man could be on the cards this summer though, with United having been tracking the England international for the past two years.
Our sister site the Manchester Evening News has reported that Rice himself is keen on a move to Old Trafford and sounded out the likes of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw during the recent international break.
Tied down to a deal until 2024, while the Hammers also have an option to extend that agreement by another 12 months, West Ham will be shrewd in the transfer market this summer and may look to price United out of a move with their valuation.
In reality, though, it may largely be taken out of West Ham's fans if Rice pushes for a transfer and the fact he's set to spend the summer with England at the European Championships, alongside potential future teammates, will be causing senior figures at the club to sweat.
Securing Champions League football may be decisive in West Ham's quest to retain the services of Rice and their own objectives could be impacted by the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.
West Ham currently sit fourth in the standings heading into the final seven games of the Premier League season, with a single point advantage over Chelsea and a three-point margin above Liverpool.
While Moyes' side hold their fate in their own hands, as they need to drop points to be dethroned from their position, difficult challenges lie ahead in the remaining weeks of the Premier League campaign - in particular the hosting of Chelsea a week on Saturday.
If the Blues win that clash, they will leapfrog West Ham in the table and will then be in the driving seat to secure a spot in the Champions League group stages.
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Should Chelsea shatter West Ham's Champions League dreams, the temptation for Rice to move on will be increased and they may find it difficult to fend off the interest from Manchester United.
However, if the Hammers do finish in the top four, then Rice could be persuaded to stay at the club for at least one more year to play a part in what would be a historic campaign for the club, facing off against some of European football's biggest sides.
While Chelsea won't want to directly help a rival like United, the main priority is a top-four finish and anything less than that could be damaging for Thomas Tuchel's ranks.
