Chelsea have been told that Declan Rice is an “upgrade” on N’Golo Kante as the Blues continue their chase of the West Ham midfielder.
Frank Lampard could not get a deal for the Englishman over the line for the £80m-rated player.
With the Blues boss wanting already deciding on a new position for the former west-London academy man, the manager is expected to make another move for Rice in the next window.
But it also comes as Kante, who helped the Stamford Bridge side to their last title in 2017, has been fuelling speculation of an exit.
And Bent, who scored more than 200 goals in over 550 appearances in his career, believes Chelsea should make a move for the West Ham man as an “upgrade” on the Frenchman.
Speaking to talkSPORT , the former Tottenham and Sunderland forward said: “For me, Declan Rice would be an upgrade.
“Not only because he can play that role really, really well, he can get about the pitch, has got good energy, reads the game really well.
“Not only that as well, he can drop into centre half, that's two positions he can play.
“N’Golo Kante has been a superb footballer and still is a great footballer.
“He won the Premier League with Leicester, went to Chelsea and won the Premier League and won the World Cup back in 2018 and I just think for a season and a half now he's not played in that role we know he is so good at.
“Maybe (Maurizio) Sarri was on to something because he felt he wasn't quick enough in possession to play him there.
“Sarri got absolutely killed for not playing him there but Frank (Lampard) has come in and done the same thing and no-one has really said anything.”
It comes as Kante could be shipped off to Inter as they look to fill the gap left by a potential Christian Eriksen exit.
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip
