Chelsea will once again compete in the January transfer market with Arsenal for the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham United
Arsenal have been told to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United, who has been on Chelsea’s radar for a long time. The Gunners would be eager to avenge the Blues after missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea.
Joao Felix also piqued Arsenal’s attention, but their rivals Chelsea were able to sign the winger on a loan. But the Mudryk affair has caused the Gunners extra pain, and Rice’s signing would be a terrific act of retaliation.
Arsenal and Chelsea were in a bidding battle for the transfer of Ukrainian player Mudryk, but the West Londoners were able to defeat their Premier League rivals in the purchase of the youngster.
Once more, it appears that both clubs will compete to sign Rice, despite the fact that Manchester United are also in the race for the player.
Former Chelsea forward Tony Cascarin suggested in his column for The Times (subscription needed) [h/t Express] that Arsenal should sign the defensive midfielder. Given manager Mikel Arteta’s tendency to give opportunities to youngsters, Rice could be a world-class addition to their youthful team.
“Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are a great project to join, and not only because they are top of the league. Arteta has developed young players exceptionally well. There’s Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard in the attacking midfield area alone.”
“Rice will cover for the weaknesses of others and provide a platform for team-mates to play their best game. He wins the ball and gets it forward quickly. For a team with such quick and direct attacking talent, having someone who reads moments and intercepts the ball and then immediately supplies a team-mate is critical.
“I imagine Rice would come in to replace Granit Xhaka, which would give Arsenal depth and increase that solidity and protection in midfield. Alongside Partey, that could be the next Patrick Vieira-Gilberto Silva partnership.”
Even the 24-year-old said that he wants to test his skills and compete in major events (the UEFA Champions League). And the Hammers want to sell the player for £75 million; initially, they intended to sell him for £100 million but have now apparently lowered their asking price.
In addition, his contract expires in 2024, and the 24-year-old is hesitant to extend it while West Ham are also battling in the relegation zone (Transfermarkt).
Despite Cascarino’s assertion that Rice should pick Arsenal since they have a great project, Chelsea are also building for the future. Todd Boehly has a vision, and despite a rocky season, we will undoubtedly recoup, and even Mikel Arteta took three years to make Arsenal into a competitive club.
Moreover, it is up to the player to pick the team, since we signed Mudryk before Arsenal. We can pull at his heartstrings and promise him a return to a club whom he left to try his luck elsewhere.
More Chelsea News:
- Sergei Palkin reveals why Mykhailo Mudryk chose Chelsea over Arsenal
- Loaned out Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi to decide his future in the summer
- Graham Potter happy with the debut performance of Benoit Badiashile for Chelsea
Even if we fail to sign, Chelsea are heavily linked with Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez as well. And Boehly would be wise smart to ensure we sign either of them given that Chelsea are in dire need of a central midfielder who is young, defensively sound, and has what it takes to make it at the very top.
