Chelsea ought to be considering a move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, says Matt Jarvis, but the England global is very likely to require a fee of over $62m.
Speculation regarding a switch for the 21-year-old is beginning to build again going towards another window.
Manchester United have been heavily linked with an approach previously, as have the Red Devils’ acquaintances at Manchester City, whilst Arsenal have been advised that they have to maintain the combination if an exit door swings open in a London rival.
It could be that Frank Lampard chooses to join the chase if Rice, who spent time in Chelsea’s academy system between 2006 and 2014, is made available by his former employers in West Ham.
Ex-Hammers winger Jarvis considers a highly-rated holding midfielder are a wise asset for the Blues, but admits that a far sought-after asset won’t come cheap.
“He’s a really talented young player who is obviously playing week in, week out at West Ham and also playing for England,” Jarvis told talkSPORT of Rice.
“He has really got on to the scene and doing exceptionally well.
“He is going to need to continue to enhance and it is just if he feels if it is the ideal time to proceed or not.
“Chelsea are a team that are moving in the right direction under Frank Lampard; the kids are getting their chances, so it would be a great match for him to go in with some other youngsters.
“He’s a very different player to what Lampard was, but he [Lampard] clearly knows the function of a midfield player and he oversees [N’Golo] Kante, who is most likely the best one in his role.
“It is going to be a tricky choice for Rice to make as both the Manchester clubs might be interested in him.
“At the minute he is playing week in, week out, and Gareth Southgate will want to have the ability to see him playing weekly. He does not want to be going into another club and be sat on the seat and not playing since that won’t improve his place in the England set-up
“He’s a crucial figure at West Ham. West Ham will not be wanting to let him go as he is an integral part of their group, so they will be anticipating if bids are coming in, which they will need to be a lot greater than the typical one.
“He is young and he is playing for England already; you have got to be looking at likely above £50m in this marketplace.”
Rice broke through at West Ham as a promising centre-half, but since then he has thrived in a midfield role and now has 100 appearances for the Hammers and seven senior England caps to his name.
