According to Daily Record reporter Ian McGarry, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard reportedly wants the club to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
He said on the Transfer Window podcast: “Another young player who’s making waves and is attracting attention is Declan Rice, the West Ham player, who started his time as an academy player at Chelsea and indeed is very much fancied by Chelsea with regards to a return.
“Our information at the Transfer Window podcast is that Frank Lampard’s feeling about the player is that he could become potentially a commanding presence in Chelsea’s defence, which of course would be taking him out of the defensive midfield role he currently fills for West Ham United, but he did start as a centre-half and has both the physique and ability to play there.
“But of course, if you’ve got a player who can play in two positions then why not?
“He’s currently under contract until 2024 at the London Stadium but he’s only 21, has seven caps already for England, again he fills all of those kind of box-ticking factors that we talk about with regards to young, English, talented, good with the ball at his feet, reads the game well etc.
“We’ve talked a lot about Lampard’s desire to have a vocal presence in his defence which he feels is lacking. “Obviously he played for his entire time at Chelsea with John Terry who was very much that ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’ phrase.”
Rice spent eight years in the Chelsea youth academy before he moved to West Ham in 2014. He has become an important player for West Ham, making 29 appearances in the Premier League this season.