Liverpool could now reportedly face competition from Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea for the signing of Declan Rice, with the new Blues manager a fan of the West Ham star.
According to the Independent, the incoming Argentine coach has internally discussed signing the England international for Chelsea, alongside the likes Emi Martinez and fellow Liverpool target Alexis Mac Allister, though Rice could be the hardest player to recruit.
Valued at £100m at a minimum, the 24-year-old is currently predicted to be one of the most expensive transfers in the upcoming transfer market, and whilst Liverpool are hardly the favourites for Rice, Chelsea joining the race via Pochettino could be a major issue.
As we know, Rice came through Chelsea’s academy before being released and making a name for himself at West Ham, and if Pochettino can keep Mason Mount to stay with the west London side, Todd Boehly will have no issue with splashing the cash for the England superstar.
Indeed, Liverpool could have had an outside chance of signing Rice had the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United dropped out of the race, yet Rice emerging as a target for Chelsea could cause some major problems for the Anfield side.
Chelsea could beat Liverpool to Rice despite lack of European football
Chelsea’s disastrous season will result in the Blues playing off the continent for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign, yet as we know from that year, no European football could be a blessing for the Blues, and signing Rice ahead of Liverpool is a real possibility.
Under Pochettino, Chelsea could undergo one of the most exciting projects in all of Europe with the right signings and sales, and Rice could be keen to reunite with Mount and to move to his boyhood club if Liverpool are unwilling to match West Ham’s asking price.
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