Chelsea are no longer leading the race for West Ham captain Declan Rice, according to reliable journalist Matt Law.

The Telegraph reporter claims that the Blues are “not rated as frontrunners” for either Rice or his England international teammate Jude Bellingham.

It is an intriguing development that raises the question as to who actually is now the favourite to secure Rice’s signature at the end of the season.

Due to the Hammers’ poor form in the Premier League, most supporters are now resigned to losing their talisman next summer, although it appears his potential next club is very much a mystery.

Rice has made it clear that he wants to be playing for a club in the Champions League, and that may suggest that whoever finishes in the top four this season will be among his favoured destinations.

Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United would, therefore, likely feature high on his list of options at the moment, but we will probably find it out more as we get closer to May.