According to a recent tweet by renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Premier League giants Chelsea are said to be eyeing West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice as their ‘next target’ for the current transfer window. The post clarified that the Blues are in advanced talks for the signature of Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and that they’re preparing to turn their attention to Rice once the shot-stopper’s purchase is completed. The Englishman has been on the Blues’ list for a while now, with Lampard seemingly keen to reunite him with best buddy Mason Mount for the upcoming campaign.
Although the report has clarified that Chelsea are eyeing Declan Rice as their next summer target, whether or not the Hammers are willing to sanction this sale remains to be seen. A report by the Express states that the midfielder is keen on finding a way back to Stamford Bridge this summer.
Despite this though, Rice isn’t expected to necessarily push for a deal, owing to the relationship he has with the London Stadium club. With the former Chelsea man valued at the £60m mark and the Hammers looking for money to fund their summer purchases, a move could well be in order, although there’s every chance that Chelsea will drive that price down.
What Is Chelsea’s Current Midfield Situation?
The London club’s shopping spree this summer has been nothing short of exhilarating, and some of the signings they have made are most certainly worth the hype. Even without these new stars though, Chelsea had among the strongest midfield rosters in the entire division, and there are no signs of that changing anytime soon. With a flurry of options all boasting different skill-sets for Lampard to choose from, it’s safe to say that the Blues’ midfield now has enough depth to see out the entire season.
Jorginho, Billy Gilmour and N’Golo Kante are the three options on the pivot role, while Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic and German sensation Kai Havertz form the more advanced choices. Having brought in Moroccan trickster Hakim Ziyech as well, it must be conceded that this Blues midfield will be intimidating on first look. The variety of attributes will surely be Lampard’s biggest asset in this situation as well, as he will always have the option of changing things around when a match isn’t going their way.
What Would Declan Rice Add To This Chelsea Team?
The Englishman is a holding midfielder by position, and that’s a role where Chelsea don’t need to acquire any more reinforcements. Rice though was utilised at centre-half by David Moyes in the latter part of last season, and he excelled. The Blues’ defensive fragility has been no secret, and it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to sign Rice as a potential centre-half option. The former Chelsea man has taken the Premier League by storm recently, and his quality on and off the ball are more than apparent to see. Capable of reading the play and making timely interceptions, Rice’s defensive concentration is right up there with the best as well.
Chelsea Are Eyeing Declan Rice As Their Next Summer Target: Should Lampard Go For It?
The London club have made multiple brilliant signings since the start of the summer, with the free transfer for Thiago Silva being the one that bolsters their defence the most. Finding a partner for the Brazilian veteran will not be an easy task for Lampard, as the performances of Zouma, Christensen and Rudiger have all been riddled with inconsistency. As far as midfielders go, Chelsea needn’t even consider signings another one, but considering that Rice can play at centre-half as well, this might end up being a shrewd piece of business by Lampard’s men.
