Sporting director says Chelsea target is ‘worth every penny’ ahead of likely summer move | OneFootball

We are building towards another big transfer saga this summer and as always, Chelsea are likely to be involved in it, as they so often have been of late.

The club continue their rebuild and there are a few more positions that they will be looking to address come the summer. After a busy January, I’d be surprised to see mirrored spending again, but they will have to dig pretty deep once again in order to get their preferred targets for certain areas of the pitch.

Exclusive: Ben Jacobs extensive latest Chelsea column of transfers and other in-house situations!

It is no secret that Chelsea hold an interest in signing West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, as The Daily Mirror have once again reiterated today.

And they say that Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United have been handed a boost in the race to sign Rice, with the clubs sporting director admitting that they will not begrudge Rice leaving in the summer.

Former Hammers midfielder Mark Noble said: “We’re West Ham and these players want to go out and play Champions League football – and do you blame them? Dec is no different. Dec will always be hailed at West Ham as a fantastic player and such a top, top person.

“But I don’t think anyone begrudges him wanting to go and win things. We just hope he’ll keep performing like he has been over the last month or so. Wherever Declan ends up, or however much someone pays for him, whether it’s here or anywhere else, he’s worth every penny.

“He’s said openly he loves playing at West Ham, but he has got ambitions as a player to go and play in the Champions League and win trophies. I don’t think any West Han fan can actually have an agenda over that. Do you blame him for having really big ambitions? Of course you don’t. If he didn’t, he probably wouldn’t be as good as he is.”