According to The Telegraph, Chelsea’s hierarchy still have fears over the price tag on the head of West Ham United’s Declan Rice.
It’s claimed that West Ham wanted £80million for Rice over the summer, and those demands don’t look to be changing.
Chelsea decision makers allegedly still don’t like the price tag, even though boss Frank Lampard is desperate to sign him.
That means Chelsea may have to look elsewhere, and there’s an interesting line in the article which claims Lampard had given the green light to bidding for Thomas Partey.
In the end, Chelsea didn’t go ahead with a move for the Ghanaian, and he left Atletico Madrid for Arsenal on deadline day in October.
Partey has shown signs of his quality, particularly in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United, but is currently out injured.
Lampard may now push for Chelsea to pay the big fee for Rice and push against any other alternatives, having missed out on Partey.
Arsenal will be delighted to have pipped Lampard and co to Partey’s signature, but West Ham will be sweating over Rice’s future with Chelsea still lurking.
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