Perry Groves has backed Chelsea to make a move for Declan Rice but has warned that the West Ham midfielder will not come cheaply.
The Blues have been heavily linked with a move for the 21-year-old, who was actually released from the youth set-up at Stamford Bridge as a 15-year-old.
Frank Lampard looks set to splash the cash this summer as he looks to put his own stamp on the Chelsea squad following last year's transfer ban.
Groves, however, warned that Rice will not come cheaply, with his seven England caps enabling West Ham to charge an English premium on the player.
Yet, speaking on talkSPORT, Arsenal legend Groves argued that Rice was precisely the sort of player that the Blues need to target in order to strengthen what he perceives as a weakness in the middle of the park.
"I think he does suit Chelsea because we said before, they look weak through the centre of their midfield area," Groves said.
"It gives them that little bit of physical strength and he's got better on the ball.
"He would be a player who would protect the two centre-halves. So that makes sense.
"The price is going to be more because obviously he's English so that always puts the price up by another £10million, doesn't it?"
Whilst Groves feels the Blues have a weakness in midfield, it looks likely that they will have to do some trading in order to strengthen.
That is due to the number of central midfielders currently at the club, with the likes of Tiemoue Bakayoko returning from a loan abroad.
Juventus are also out of the running to sign Jorginho following Maurizio Sarri's sacking, which will place more pressure on the Blues to move some players on in order to allow others to come in.
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