According to a recent report by Sky Sports, Premier League giants Chelsea are interested in a summer move for the services of English international midfielder Declan Rice. The former Chelsea academy member was released by the Blues back in 2013 when he went on to join the West Ham United youth setup just a few miles away from Stamford Bridge. The report claims that the London side are keen on adding reinforcements in the defensive midfield position and that they view Rice as a reliable option.
It has been claimed that the Chelsea scouts are massive admirers of the midfielder’s abilities, especially because he spent a fairly long duration as a member of the Chelsea development system. Rice, who is also close friends with Chelsea star Mason Mount, could be tempted to make the switch across the English capital and move to Stamford Bridge in the upcoming summer transfer window. The pair of them have recently played together for the national setup as well, further highlighting the relationship that the duo share.
What Is Chelsea’s Current Situation In The Midfield Area?
Although the transfer ban last summer deterred the Blues from making any purchases, Frank Lampard did an excellent job prior to the campaign to ensure that his team had enough depth to compete in the Premier League. For all the quality that this Chelsea squad boasts, it must be conceded that midfield is where they would have an advantage over many of the other clubs in the league. Not only does the London club have the numbers, but they also possess different kinds of players with a plethora of varying skill-sets that can be used as per the manager’s requirement.
In N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount and most recently Billy Gilmour, the Blues boast one of the most well-balanced rosters of midfielders in the Premier League, if not in the whole of Europe. The fact that Lampard’s men are still in fourth place, despite the likes of Loftus-Cheek and Kante missing massive chunks of the season, showcases just how much quality this Chelsea core actually possesses.
What Would Rice Add To This Chelsea Team?
The 21-year-old has been one of the Premier League’s standout players since he first broke into the scene midway through the 17-18 campaign. Despite being a lot younger than some of the other midfield options at West Ham, Declan Rice started every league fixture for the Hammers this season, further highlighting the amount of composure he would add in the middle of the park.
The youngster likes to sit just in front of the centre-halves and control the tempo of the fixture with his passing and movement. Despite being only 21, the youngster has gone on to become a regular for West Ham United, under both of the managers that he’s worked with at the club. With two assists to show for his efforts this season as well, there’s no denying that Rice is one of the most exciting midfield talents in the English game at the moment.
Why Chelsea Needn’t Spend On Declan Rice In The Summer?
As has been mentioned earlier, the amount of quality within this Chelsea midfield simply cannot be put into words. Also, the fact that Rice is a regular starter at West Ham United could be a concern for the Blues, as they surely would not be able to offer him the same kind of role. Moreover, in Kante, Lampard is fortunate enough to have the best defensive midfielder in the world, and signing a younger one to compete for the same spot is something that the gaffer needn’t rush into at this point.
