Transfer Rumors: Chelsea Teased To Bid For Premier League's 'Best Young Player'

Chelsea might finally make a move for arguably the biggest draw in the transfer market.

After a failed transfer move to Stamford Bridge this past summer, West Ham United star Declan Rice is still linked to a return to his boyhood club.

It can be recalled that the Blues never managed to come up with a concrete offer for Rice after the Hammers reportedly put a staggering £80 million ($109 million) price tag on English midfielder.

Now, TalkSport presenter and transfer insider Alex Crook bared that Chelsea indeed has got its eyes locked on Rice, with Frank Lampard under the assumption of “massively” boosting his team by signing the 21-year-old.

Even more interesting, West Ham is open the hearing how much the Blues will propose and how soon it would be.

“One player Frank Lampard believes would massively improve his Chelsea team is Declan Rice,” Crook revealed. “West Ham were surprised that Chelsea didn’t make a formal bid in the summer and they’re bracing themselves for that to happen, either now or at the end of the season.”

However, Crook also noted that Chelsea needs to offload a few expensive players to make room for Rice. According to pundit, Danny Drinkwater, Fikayo Tomori, Marcos Alonso and Willy Caballero are all on the list of possible departures.

“Before Chelsea can make their move for Declan Rice, who is their No.1 target, pretty much their only target–they need to get players off the books,” Crook stated. “Danny Drinkwater, Fikayo Tomori, Marcos Alonso–three big names that they want to sell. Willy Caballero, too, isn’t particularly happy with his place in the goalkeeping pecking order.”

Lampard isn’t the only one who sees Rice’s potential in the English top-flight. Since the summer transfer window, the midfield star’s value is believed to have shot up following a series of impressive performances this season.

As early as now, Aston Villa legend Alan Bruce McInally already thinks Rice as a cut above the rest of the youngsters in the Premier League.

“[Rice] is the best young player in the Premier League by a shooting mile, he is absolutely unbelievable," McInally shared.

“Talking about going back to Chelsea, I’m going to throw in [Manchester] City, [Manchester] United, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG and Juventus,” the former Aston Villa striker added. “That’s how good [Rice] he is, that’s where I think he has a chance of ending up as well.”

Even Rice’s West Ham teammates are convinced the future is bright for the England defensive midfielder.

"I’m sure he’ll be a top, top player and an even better player in years to come," Hammers captain Mark Noble recently told Talksport of Rice.