Former Leeds United manager Sam Allardyce believes a player-plus-cash deal could hand Manchester City the advantage in their pursuit of Declan Rice.
City are thought to be stepping up their interest in Rice, with the Athletic reporting on Thursday that an official bid was on the horizon. Pep Guardiola is expected to further strengthen in midfield, following the imminent arrival of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea.
Rice has attracted interest from several top clubs in the Premier League and across Europe, with Arsenal long considered as frontrunners. Mikel Arteta's side have submitted two formal offers for the 24-year-old and continue to negotiate with West Ham.
The Hammers are thought to already be working hard on replacing their captain, with reports linking them with a move for out-of-favour City man Kalvin Phillips. And Allardyce believes the Blues could use their player as leverage in a deal.
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"Man City, somebody will go back the other way," Allardyce told his No Tippy Tippy Football podcast when asked to predict Rice's next destination.
"If I know Moysey, there would have to be a player in the deal for him and that would mean it would be easier for the club who is buying him because they wouldn’t have to pay David Sullivan’s [asking price].
"It would be over £100million in total but it would be so much under that player and that player’s value would take that deal over £100million and David would get somebody he really needed."
Despite speculation over his future at the Etihad after just one season, however, Phillips has made clear his intention to stay at City snd fight for a place in Guardiola's plans.
"My intention is to stay there," he said earlier this week. "We have just won the treble, so there is no reason for me to leave, other than if I am not playing I will obviously have to think about it. I cannot give it 12 months and say, ‘I am not playing so I am going to leave’."
