Frank Leboeuf has said that Chelsea should sign Declan Rice from London and Premier League rivals West Ham United in the summer transfer window.
The Chelsea and France legend has outlined the attributes that would make Declan Rice a very good signing for the Blues.
The pundit has noted that the Blues let Rice leave back in 2014 when he was a youngster, and believes that the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners could rectify that mistake and bring him back to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea told to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United
Leboeuf said on Si & Dan Talk Chelsea, as relayed by ASBTF: “Chelsea must try to sign Declan Rice. People have the right to make mistakes, and Chelsea made a mistake when they got rid of him when he was younger.
“Rice is a fantastic player; he’s strong, clever, technically good, physically a monster, and tactically he can be very useful.
“It would be a big change if Chelsea signed him because, for the first time in a long time, we would have someone very strong in the middle of the park.”
Potential summer transfer very tricky
In our view, it would be quite tricky for Chelsea to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United in the summer transfer window.
There are a number of factors that would stop the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners from making a deal.
First of all, West Ham want £120 million in transfer fees for the 24-year-old (Sky Sports).
Chelsea surely cannot spend that much money on a single player due to FFP issues and without selling some of their players first.
Arsenal are reportedly leading the race for Rice, and it seems that the Gunners want to get a deal done for the England international midfielder soon.
Now, no one is doubting the quality of Rice, but you have to ask whether Chelsea need another midfielder of his ilk.
N’Golo Kante is in talks with Chelsea over a new contract, while Enzo Fernandez joined the Blues only in the January transfer window and is bound to get better.
The likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic and Carney Chukwuemeka are also viable options in the middle of the park.
Yes, Rice would be a very good signing for Chelsea, but we do not think that a transfer this summer is likely.