Frank Lampard’s desire to sign Declan Rice may have to be tempered until the summer but former Chelsea defender William Gallas as urged the West Ham midfielder to leave east London for the betterment of his career.
Rice remains firmly on the radar of the Chelsea hierarchy with Lampard viewing the 22-year-old as the present and future of the Blues midfield as a mobile defensive midfielder who can play in a number of roles and systems.
Chelsea’s spending in the summer coupled with the coronavirus pandemic has limited any transfer excess this month and West Ham’s significant valuation of their prized asset means any move won’t happen until at least the next window.
Rice has been professional and loyal to the Hammers throughout the speculation, his performance levels never dropping as he’s established himself as one of the most consistent and reliable holding midfielders in the Premier League.
But Gallas claims the England international can only make the step into the elite tier of player, if he leaves West Ham with Chelsea, who released Rice when he was 14, an ideal destination.
"He’s a good player, for his age, he’s unbelievable. Very strong and technically, he’s almost got everything,” Gallas, who made 225 appearances for the Blues from 2001 to 2006, told PlayOJO.
"For me, he has to leave West Ham to get to the next level because he could be a top-class player.
"To be a top-class player, he has to train everyday alongside top-class players which is why for me he has to leave West Ham next season.
"He looks like he has a strong personality, I think he would be a good signing for Chelsea."
Chelsea possess an abundance of midfielders but with only Mason Mount, Billy Gilmour and Kai Havertz, due to the money invested in him last summer, obvious Lampard players beyond this season.
Mateo Kovacic’s form has dipped, NGolo Kante is showing signs of mortality while Jorginho is no longer a first-team regular and has suitors across Serie A.
