Mauricio Pochettino wants Chelsea to sign 24-year-old West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice amid interest from Arsenal.
According to a report by 90min, Chelsea are keen on having Declan Rice in their ranks ahead of next season. The 24-year-old has been the mainstay for West Ham United for quite a few years now. And, quite a few clubs are interested in his services.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are all set to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager in the coming weeks. The former Tottenham boss will take over from Frank Lampard, who is currently their caretaker manager. It has been a very disappointing season for the Blues. They have spent a fortune on signing new players, but results on the pitch have not improved.
Graham Potter was handed over the reins of the club at the start of the season. But he failed to deliver and was shown the exit door a few weeks back. His departure left a void which will now be filled by Pochettino, who has already started planning about their goals for the upcoming transfer window. The Argentine manager is keen on adding a new midfielder to the mix.
He is looking for a world-class player who can help revive the Blues. During talks with Pochettino, Chelsea made him aware of their long-standing interest in the 24-year-old. And, he seems to have given the green light for his acquisition.
The former Tottenham manager would love to have Rice in his ranks ahead of next season. And, with the futures of Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher uncertain, pushing for a new midfielder is a must for Chelsea.
His arrival will give them a lot of solidity in the centre of the park. However, it won’t be easy to acquire his service given the number of clubs that are interested in him. And, he won’t come cheap. Rice’s contract at West Ham runs until the summer of 2024 with the club having the option to extend it by another 12 months.
With a few years still left in his contract, West Ham are expected to look for at least £100 million for the 24-year-old. While the Blues are financially capable enough to pay that kind of a sum, they are not the only ones in the race. Even the Arsenal are keen on having Rice in their ranks.
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Mikel Arteta wants to further bolster his midfield ahead of next season. He wants to increase his squad depth and add more quality in the centre of the park. The Arsenal boss feels the 24-year-old would be a perfect fit for the club and they are ready to push Chelsea all the way for his signatures.
