The 23-year-old has been linked with a move away from West Ham during the January transfer window, but he may have to wait until the summer to leave the London Stadium.
Emmanuel Petit has advised Declan Rice to reject a move to Chelsea in favor of a move to Arsenal.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move away from West Ham during the January transfer window, but he may have to wait until the summer to leave the London Stadium. David Moyes’ side are currently 17th in the Premier League, level on points with third-bottom Everton, and will rely on Rice to keep them there.
Rice, who has 39 England caps, has previously stated his desire to compete in the Champions League and to emulate his national teammates in the future. Rice has 18 months left on his current contract with the Hammers and could be allowed to leave at the end of the season for a reduced fee.
Frank Lampard wanted to bring Rice back to Chelsea in 2020 but was unable to persuade the club’s board that he was worth £80 million. Rice’s value has since risen to over £100 million as a result of his form and age, but his contract situation may have lowered his value slightly. Nonetheless, ex-Arsenal midfielder Petit has urged Rice to stay at the Emirates Stadium rather than join the Blues.
He informed Compare.
Bet: “I know Chelsea wants him, but if I were Declan Rice, I would go to Arsenal rather than Chelsea. The two clubs are heading in opposite directions, and with the way Arsenal is playing, he would be an ideal fit.”
The Gunners have had a consistent midfield three all season, with Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard forming a solid partnership in the middle of the park. However, with Partey and Xhaka both 29 and nearing the end of their careers, the Gunners may look to the future and sign a player of Rice’s caliber.
Furthermore, the Gunners are competing on multiple fronts and require bodies to bolster the squad, particularly with Albert Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny struggling for form, and Fabio Viera failing to hit the ground running since his big-money move from Porto in the summer. Despite their impressive start to the season, Rice could be the ideal player to slot into that midfield and somehow improve it.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s situation is quite different, and the Blues appear disjointed at times, with the midfield arguably the Blues’ weakest link at the moment. Denis Zakaria has been Chelsea’s standout midfielder in recent weeks, with Matteo Kovacic, Jorginho, and Conor Gallagher all underperforming, and N’Golo Kante currently out injured with a thigh problem.
Graham Potter’s men currently sit in 10th place in the table, closer to the relegation zone than the top four, with a lot of work to be done in west London. Chelsea return to action on Thursday night when they travel to Craven Cottage to face in-form Fulham.