Former Chelsea man Frank Leboeuf has told the Blues they “must try and sign Declan Rice” as he “knows the club” and would “bring something special”.

Rice is one of the best players in the Premier League that isn’t currently playing for a ‘big-six’ side. While they’ve not shown that this season, the Blues are in that group, and are generally a safe bet for a top-four spot.

Rice has been linked with pretty much every team in that group at one time or another. Links started a few years back, when he fully established himself in the West Ham side.

A few years on, and he’s a household name across the league. Rice has been one of, if not the best, player at West Ham for the last couple of seasons.

His importance to the side is not to be understated. His play both in and out of possession, going forwards and defending, show him to be a very well-rounded midfielder.

This season has been his best in terms of goalscoring in the league. Indeed, Rice has notched four goals, alongside two assists.

Adding goals to his game shows his bow has a lot of strings. That could stand him in good stead for a big move, as while he’s generally used as a holding midfielder, he can add another element to a side as and when it’s required.

While Chelsea are one side in the mix, they don’t seem to be in the lead. Indeed, Arsenal are seemingly out in front, and they’re even prepared to sell stalwart Granit Xhaka to raise funds.

Chelsea told to ‘go and get’ Rice

While Arsenal seem to be in the lead, former Chelsea man Leboeuf has told the Blues they need to attempt to snare Rice.

“Chelsea must try and sign Declan Rice. People have the right to make mistakes and Chelsea made a mistake when they got rid of him when he was younger,” he said on Simon Phillips Substack.

“Rice is a fantastic player; he’s strong, clever, technically good, physically a monster, and tactically he can be very useful.

“It would be a big change if Chelsea signed him because for the first time in a long time we would have someone very strong in the middle of the park. If you have the chance to sign Declan Rice, then you go and get him.”

Rice a good fit for Chelsea

Leboeuf also detailed how he feels Rice would be a great fit for the side, beyond the fact he’s a quality footballer.

“He knows the club, I think he cheers the club, and he would bring something special to Chelsea,” he added.

“We have very good players here but we don’t have monsters, we don’t have a strong guy in the middle of the park.

“I love Rice, he’s like a tower in the middle where you can rely on him and make sure physically, tactically, technically, and mentally the guy will be there 24/7 that’s for sure.”

Indeed, Rice would add an element to the Chelsea side that they don’t seem to have at the moment. However, their poor season, compared to Arsenal’s very good one, suggests beating the Gunners out would be very difficult.

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