Chelsea are weighing up a possible move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice in the summer, according to reports in the UK.
It is believed the Blues were actively looking for a holding midfielder in the January transfer window but they failed in their attempt to sign Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare.
They have now turned their sights to Rice, who was released by the London club as a youngster. Supporters on Twitter are not particularly enthusiastic about a move for the 21-year-old:
Overrated. No better than what we’ve got.
— @sirfrank (@bill19831) March 23, 2020
Hell NO
— Joaquin (@Gerrard2k4) March 23, 2020
Please say sike ??♂️
— Tyson Creme ?? (@TysonCreme) March 23, 2020
We’re dooooooooomed
— john berry (@johnber35919939) March 23, 2020
God forbid
— hon_bube (@HonBube) March 24, 2020
Declan Rice???? Really…..
— Emrys (@MomohEmmanuel_) March 23, 2020
Hell no he is overrated
— Singived (@Goal18238872) March 23, 2020
No thanks, he's bang average, don't sign him just because he's Mason's pal.
— Ambivalent humbug (@ade_longy) March 23, 2020
Ampadu better imo
— son of the soil (@dammyd1990) March 23, 2020
What's wrong with lampard and English players?
— Alexander (@Itzefe11) March 23, 2020
It is true that English players do come at a premium, and there are certainly other options on the market who would cost a lot less than Rice.
He is a close friend of Mason Mount so persuading the England international won’t be an issue but it has been claimed that West Ham could demand between £80m and £90m for the midfielder, which would surely force Chelsea to move on to other targets.