West Ham United are assessing Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha as a potential replacement for Declan Rice.

The England midfielder is said to be close to a move to Arsenal this summer for a mega fee.

However, Fabrizio Romano states that West Ham are not wasting any time in finding a new midfielder.

The club will look at Palhinha as one of their options to ensure their quality does not drop when Rice leaves.

The Fulham star will not come cheap, as the Cottagers remained in the Premier League and are financially healthy.

However, West Ham will be flush with cash, as Rice could go for a British record fee.