Chelsea Advised to Sign Declan Rice After World Cup Outing

• Chelsea have been told by former midfielder to go after England midfielder Declan Rice
• Rice has been one of the best defensive midfielders in the league for about four seasons now
• He declared his ambitions to leave West Ham and Chelsea face uncertainties with Jorginho and Kante

Chelsea will take their midfield positions as a priority in the next transfer window with two of their best midfielders facing uncertainties over their futures.

Ngolo Kante and Jorginho have their contracts expiring in the summer and with new ones yet to be agreed, both could leave England as Chelsea will be looking at fresh faces.

Chelsea had a bid for Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez turned down in the summer as there was no time for the club to find a replacement. The Mexican midfielder is still on Chelsea's list.

Former Chelsea player Emmanuel Petit has now advised the club to go after former academy player Declan Rice as he is the ideal candidate to anchor the club's midfield.

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What Petit said on Rice

Petit played as a defensive midfielder for Chelsea for three years between 2001-2004 and retired immediately after leaving Chelsea.

If there is someone who understands what a proper defensive midfielder is, it is him who spent his entire career playing there.

The former France international while speaking to Football Betting via Football London also noted USA midfielder Weston McKennie is a good player but Rice is a perfect fit.

''McKennie is a good player and did a good job for USA at the World Cup, but there's only one player in that position who Chelsea need. That is Declan Rice.'' he said.

Petit noted Rice's improvement and aligns with his ambition that he needs to play for a club in the Champions League.

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''He's improved so much but he's struggling to get to the next stage. He must play Champions League football. If Kante goes, they have to go for Rice.'' he added.

Rice hints at West Ham exit

Sports Brief earlier reported that Rice has hinted he could leave West Ham declaring he has ambitions to play top level football with a Champions League club.

Rice was a former academy player of Chelsea but was released at 14 years which led to him joining West Ham and subsequently maturing into one of the best defensive midfielders in the league.

Mason Mount is Rice's best friend and seeing what he has achieved at Chelsea, he certainly feels the need to leave a midtable club like West Ham.