Chelsea target, Declan Rice, in action for West Ham United. (GETTY Images)
West Ham star Declan Rice has been linked with Chelsea after speculation of him leaving the Hammers in the summer window (h/t Football.london).
Rice has helped West Ham to 10th place in the Premier League this season and is already an England international. The 21-year-old was subject to a lot of transfer talk in the summer with reports suggesting that West Ham wanted £80m (h/t Football.london) for the midfielder.
Chelsea were unwilling to lump that much for Rice at the time but Frank Lampard could make a move for the Englishman in the winter window, according to the report.
Rice would add more competition for the midfield spots and former Chelsea star Graeme Le Saux believes Lampard could also change the way he sets up the team.
Le Saux lauded Rice for having a lot of knowledge about how the Premier League is. The former Chelsea man also claimed that signing him would change Lampard’s setup completely (h/t Football.london):
“Is he a player that Chelsea need? I think depending on how they set up, then absolutely.
“He’s a player that gives some protection to the back four. Obviously, you have Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic that play in that midfield three with one as the holding midfielder and I think if Frank wanted to change that to a two-man holding midfield, I think he’s not found that combination yet with Kante and another.”
Le Saux added that N’Golo Kante was a great talent. However, the Frenchman was best used as a ball “holder” rather than the most advanced midfield.
The former Blue was unsure about the qualities of Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic:
“I think it’s an area that has been a bit inconsistent for Chelsea – the middle of midfield and how that midfield three works.
“Does it work when the team has possession? Is there enough in there to create chances? And is it robust enough defensively to offer the back four protection?”
The Blues have been a bit inconsistent this season, with the team lying sixth in the table. We have won just one out of our last five Premier League games and a few fresh faces could provide a bit of a boost to the team.
Rice has impressed for West Ham since he made his debut for the senior side and it is to be seen if he moves once the transfer window opens.
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