Chelsea are still interested in signing West Ham United captain Declan Rice and have even identified the England international as their top midfield transfer target in 2023.
The Blues have long been linked with a transfer for their former academy graduate, who played seven years in the Stamford Bridge ranks between 2006 and 2013.
Rice eventually left as a teenager to join West Ham, where he has 10 goals and 12 assists in 205 games at the age of 23.
David Moyes soon gave Rice the captain’s armband, and the England international has started all ten of the Hammers’ Premier League and Europa League games this season, assisting on two goals.
Rice was regarded untouchable by West Ham despite heavy interest from Chelsea and other big European teams, although he is only under contract at the London Stadium until 2024, with an option for a further year.
Chelsea are still monitoring the 23-year-situation old’s at West Ham, and he remains at the top of their wishlist for a blockbuster midfield transfer, as per 90Min.
According to the report, Todd Boehly contacted West Ham to enquire about Rice shortly after his arrival in West London, but the Blues co-owner was immediately turned down.
Declan Rice Remains Chelsea’s Top Target?
However, Boehly and Chelsea are not given up on Rice, who is expected to leave West Ham at the conclusion of the season.
While Chelsea are at the top of the list, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United have all been linked with a move, and West Ham are not giving up hope on Rice signing a new long-term contract.
Moyes has long maintained that Rice is not for sale, and the Hammers manager stated earlier this year that a fee in excess of £100m would be needed for the club to even consider sanctioning a deal.
“You’ll need humongous money to get close. I said in the summer that I thought Declan Rice was £100m. That was the sales, that was cheap, that was your chance to get Declan Rice cheap,” Moyes told reporters in the spring.
“He’s like a special edition. For me, he’s probably the best midfield player in Europe. He’s here for certainly a few years. He’s under contract and we are pleased to have him.”
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Chelsea’s midfield regulars, N’Golo Kante and Jorginho, are both set to become free agents at the end of the current season, leaving the club in a limbo.
Despite Kante’s terrible injury record, Chelsea are considered to be hopeful of reaching an agreement with the France international on a new contract, although talks have reportedly halted over the duration of his new contract.
Meanwhile, Jorginho is expected to join Barcelona on a free transfer in 2023, though the Catalan giants are not believed to be actively pursuing the Euro 2020 winner at this time.
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