Blow for Chelsea as long term transfer-target set to stay at current club

Transfer News: Declan Rice is set to stay at West Ham despite Chelsea interest

According to the Mirror, English midfielder, Declan Rice is set to stay on at West Ham United next season despite interest from Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Englishman has been subjected to long-term interest from the Blues. The talented defensive midfielder who progressed through the West Ham youth ranks before making it big in the first team has gone on to form one of the best midfield partnerships in the league alongside Tomas Soucek.

Rice has played 50 times for the Hammers this season scoring five goals and providing four assists across all competitions. Also capable of playing at centre-back, the versatility that the 23-year-old offers to David Moyes’ side are immense and there is no doubt that he is undoubtedly their star man.

Rice has a contract with West Ham until 2024 and it was widely expected that he could be on his way out at the end of the current season. Chelsea and Manchester United have been admirers of the defensive midfielder but it looks likely that he will stick on at least for one more season.

Bound to happen?

The 23-year-old may not want to move right now but a reunion at Stamford Bridge a few years down the line could be on the cards. N’Golo Kante and Jorginho are not getting younger while Mateo Kovacic has struggled with injuries this season. Bringing in a dominant midfielder is a no brainer in the coming windows.

A former Cobham youth reject, Rice, with his performances has shown time and again that Chelsea were wrong in letting him go. It could prove to be a costly mistake as the Blues now have to shell out the money to bring their man back.

Rice is a player who will undoubtedly make our midfield look much better than it already is. As we have known for quite some time now, the futures of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho have not been clear with both contracts expiring next season.

Signing someone like Declan will undoubtedly fill in the shoes left by either player and could in fact be an upgrade on them. At 23, the defensive midfielder could serve Chelsea’s midfield for at least a decade and a player of his quality doesn’t come around often.

More Chelsea News

• Transfer News: Chelsea interested in signing Luka Hyrylainen from Eintracht Frankfurt
• Transfer News: Ousmane Dembele could join Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer after Joan Laporta update
• Potential new owner Todd Boehly is set to receive the Premier League all-clear for Chelsea takeover

Declan Rice to Chelsea could happen. If not now, then sometime in the future. It is more a question of when rather than if. At least we hope that is the case.