Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea players will have to mentally prepare themselves for season's last matches
Speaking to The Times (h/t Evening Standard), West Ham United manager David Moyes has warned Chelsea that the Hammers “won’t roll over” and put up a big fight to keep hold of Declan Rice.
The England midfielder has been linked with the Blues for quite some time now. However, there have been renewed links in the last few days, resurfacing the lead Chelsea have had in this race to sign the player.
Rice was an academy player for Chelsea before he moved to West Ham at a very young age. Since then, he has developed his game and become the best midfielder at the London Stadium and one of the best in the Premier League.
While admitting that keeping hold of the midfielder will be tough, Moyes was defiant when asked about his potential departure (h/t Evening Standard):
“He wants to win and play for a really good side which is going to give him the opportunity to do so. We hope that we can reach the Champions League. It is looking difficult at this time.
“But we’re not just going to roll over and let Dec walk out of the building, that is for sure. It is going to be a big fight. I like it because he wants to challenge himself and he wants to play in the big games and be a top player. I don’t think you’re ever going to hold anybody back from having those ambitions.”
Rice’s contract at West Ham expires in the summer of 2024 (Transfermarkt). He rejected the chance to sign an extension with the Hammers before the start of this season. Had he signed that contract, he would have become the highest-paid West Ham player.
Keeping all those things in mind, it does feel like the midfielder is destined to come to Chelsea in the summer. But, we are never sure of things when it comes to transfers and player futures.
What we know is that adding Rice to the current Chelsea team will make them better. He is a dynamic player who is good on the ball, reads the game well, doesn’t shirk away from physical battles and runs his socks off for the team.
Chelsea have lacked someone like that in their midfield since N’Golo Kante got injured very early on in this season. Now, the Frenchman is out of contract in the summer and is heavily linked to Barcelona.
Getting Rice would be an upgrade on the current options Graham Potter has in the midfield department.
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