Chelsea have reportedly intensified their pursuit of 24-year-old West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, a target for Arsenal.
Simon Phillips has told GiveMeSport that Premier League giants Chelsea have stepped up their interest in signing West Ham United skipper Declan Rice in the summer. The English international is also a target for Arsenal.
Phillips said, “Declan Rice still tops the list, as far as I’ve been told. But with Declan Rice, they’re putting down the groundwork foundations. They are speaking to people close to him letting him know they’re there and that they are going to be making a move for him in the summer.”
The Blues have been interested in Declan Rice for a while and are all set to bid for him in the upcoming transfer window. Chelsea have been in talks with people close to the player and are making it clear that they will make a move in the summer. But the west Londoners will face a lot of competition from elsewhere for his services.
Declan Rice is keen on moving to a bigger club ahead of next season. The 24-year-old’s contract at West Ham ends in the summer of 2024. With less than 18 months left on his contract, a move in the next window makes sense for both the club and the player.
The English midfielder joined the Hammers back in 2013 from Chelsea. He started with the West Ham youth academy and has gone up the ranks since then. Rice is currently the club’s skipper. He has established himself as their main man. The former Chelsea youth product has featured in over 200 matches for West Ham and has 23 goal contributions to his name.
Rice has exceptional defensive awareness and is great on the ball. His arrival will complete the midfield overhaul at Chelsea. He can sit in front of the defence and loves to dictate the flow of the game. On top of that, he is a leader on the pitch. Graham Potter would love to have Rice at his disposal as he will bolster the midfield and allow them to build from the back.
The Blues will face a lot of competition from Premier League clubs for the 24-year-old. Arsenal have been in the race for a while. They are interested in signing the English international. With Champions League football almost assured, they might have a better chance. As Rice has been desperate for a move to one of the Champions League clubs for a while.
Meanwhile, both Arsenal and Chelsea should be able to hike his current £60,000-a-week wages. Chelsea are currently ninth in the English top flight. They are unlikely to finish in the top four this season. They are set to miss out on the Champions League next season. And, it can surely hurt them in their pursuit of Declan Rice. So Arsenal might fancy their chances of snapping him up.
