West Ham have reportedly turned down a fresh approach for captain Declan Rice from Chelsea.
It has been reported by 90min that Chelsea have again reached out to the Hammers in their pursuit to sign the England international during the summer transfer window.
West Ham though have kept a stern resolve when it comes to keeping their star player and they have long insisted that the 23-year-old will not be sold for anything less than their £150million asking price.
The Blues are said to have contacted West Ham's majority shareholder David Sullivan at the orders of new owner Todd Boehly about conducting a potential deal.
Chelsea though were brushed off and told that Rice is not available for sale this summer.
West Ham are hopeful that Rice, who is contracted until the summer of 2024, will put pen to paper on a new deal before the start of the new season which gets underway on August 5.
Any new deal though may include a release clause for Rice, with the Hammers softening their approach in negotiations to make a new deal is signed.
Rice has previously turned down offers to extend his stay at the London Stadium, despite the club's willingness to make him their highest-paid player.
Chelsea could be set to return with an improved offer by seeing if the Hammers would take on Armando Broja and Ross Barkley in a part exchange deal.
Both Manchester City and Man United are also known admirers, but both clubs have other priorities in this summer's transfer window.
Pep Guardiola's side have agreed a £45million fee with Leeds United to sign Kalvin Phillips as a replacement for Fernandinho, as well as a cheaper alternative to Rice.
West Ham boss David Moyes wants to build a team around Rice and push the team closer to Champions League qualification - after their seventh place finish last year saw them qualify for the Europa Conference League.
The Hammers also came close to winning European silverware after losing to Eintracht Frankurt in the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Rice has previously spoken about his ambitions to win trophies during his career.
“I have always said it, I don’t want to have a career where I’ve not won anything,” Rice told Gary Neville on the Overlap podcast.
“Growing up as a kid I’ve seen all these top players win the trophies, win the Premier League, the Champions League.
“Me as a football fan and a player I want to win the best stuff, I want to win the Premier League, I want to lift that trophy, I want to win the Champions League, I want to win the FA Cups, League Cups, even with England, I want to win it all.
“If you haven’t got that ambition as a footballer, why are you playing? They are the best moments of your life winning those trophies.
“I have thought about it before, what would those days be like lifting that trophy? The day of it, the night out after. I definitely want to have those experiences of winning trophies and being the best I can be.'
In the same interview Rice said he didn't listen to the noise surrounding his future and his focus was to 'perform week in, week out' at West Ham.