Rice to see you, to see you Rice.
Chelsea are overwhelming favourites to sign Declan Rice in one of the next two transfer windows. There were strong rumours that the West Ham favourite was South London bound last summer, but alas he wasn’t ultimately part of the club’s expensive 2020 rebuilding plans. Still, the rumours won’t go away.
They were only fuelled this week by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who claimed the 21-year-old was ‘pushing’ for a transfer. Whilst the Athletic reported on Thursday that the midfielder-cum-defender is newly represented by his father Sean Rice – who happens to be a season-ticket holder at Stamford Bridge.
In spite of the significant funds required to steal the player from West Ham’s clutches, Blues boss Frank Lampard is defiant that the club shouldn’t regret having let him go as a youngster. Rice joined Chelsea’s youth setup back in 2006 when he was seven years old. A mere eight years later he was unceremoniously released to join the academy at West Ham United.
But Lampard is insistent it was in the best interests of all parties. “I certainly wouldn’t use the word ‘regret’. Our academy is one of the best in the world,” claims the Chelsea legend. “And you look at our first team now with the players that we have produced who are in and around that squad.”
“[Declan Rice] a fantastic player for West Ham and England so fair play, because his journey there after leaving Chelsea and going to West Ham is a good story to hear.”
When your club is bankrolled by Roman Abramovich, maybe the odd expensive mistake is no big deal.
