Chelsea could still sign £80m star at Stamford Bridge | OneFootball

Chelsea could still sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice in the summer, Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor has told GiveMeSport.

Reports suggest that the England star is favouring a move to Arsenal over their London rivals, but Taylor is refusing to rule out the possibility of him still ending up at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea transfer news – Declan Rice

Earlier this month, transfer insider Dean Jones informed GMS that Rice remains a target for Chelsea despite the Blues’ interest in other midfielders.

However, since then, a report from The Guardian has claimed that the 24-year-old is leaning towards joining Arsenal instead of Graham Potter’s side in the next window.

The same outlet has also suggested that Rice could cost around £80m this summer, so it does not look like an easy deal for Chelsea to do.

The west London club missing out on Champions League football next season, which now seems likely, will not help either.

What has Ryan Taylor said about Declan Rice and Chelsea?

At this moment in time, Chelsea do not look to be the frontrunners for Rice’s signature. Taylor, however, still thinks they are in the race for him because of their financial muscle and the direction they are heading in.

Speaking to GMS, the Daily Express journalist said: “It’s clear Chelsea are only going to get better. The amount of money they’ve spent, they’re not going to be a team that sit around 10th for years. They’re on the up.

“You saw the signing of [Mykhailo] Mudryk and the debut of him, how exciting he looked. I think the only way is up now for Chelsea, so I still don’t think Rice [has chosen anyone yet]. I think those reports are premature.”

Will Chelsea improve?

It is hard to imagine any other outcome. Their injury crisis will not last forever, while the club have brought in some good players this month.

The likes of Mudryk, Joao Felix, Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke have all joined to give Potter a massive boost. Add Rice to the mix in the summer, and it would be another productive transfer window for the Blues.

Described as “exceptional” by reporter Paul Hayward, Rice is an extremely effective defensive midfielder.

In West Ham’s last Premier League fixture, a 2-0 win against Everton, the England international made three interceptions, the most in the game, according to WhoScored.

All in all, Chelsea will surely get better, so their targets should not be too quick to dismiss the idea of moving to Stamford Bridge.