https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2022/11/22/declan-rice-on-real-madrid-radar/

https://www.footballinsider247.com/liverpool-rice-big-sources/

Madrid, Liverpool, City and Chelsea all in the run in for Rice in summer. I imagine if it came down to the player he chooses Chelsea, lets hope so and finally get some grit back into the middle of the park. 

 

https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/chelsea-transfer-midfield-todd-boehly-25570738

Chelsea news: Todd Boehly could be tempted to make a double transfer swoop for Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice following their midfield performance for England.

With Declan Rice anchoring the midfield, Bellingham was given the freedom to roam into attacking positions, something that he has frequently done in Germany this season where has scored nine goals for Dortmund, and alongside his goal, played a significant role in winning back possession frequently for the Three Lions.

Both Rice and Bellingham have been long-time transfer targets for Chelsea and with current Blues star Mason Mount joining them to form a midfield three, Chelsea fans were treated to one hell of a glimpse of a possible future midfield trio.

Mount, who has been used as part of a Chelsea front three this campaign, looked far more comfortable in an advanced midfield role supported by Bellingham and Rice.

Jorginho and N'Golo Kante look likely to depart west London at the end of the season with their contracts up in the summer, and after seeing how seamlessly Bellingham, Rice and Mount linked up together, Todd Boehly could easily be tempted to open the transfer war chest and bring both Rice and Bellingham to Chelsea in the summer, and set the Blues up with a midfield which can potentially dominate domestically and on the continent for many years to come.

2 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Rice and Bellingham aren't even close to the same profile of player so its a meaningless point. A holding mid to allow two numbers 8's to press is what we need, to replace J5. Bellingham would be signed for a 'box to box' role. 

We needed strikers, centre mids and fullbacks more than we needed a player of Hazard's profile in 2012. When players like Bellingham are avaliable you sign first and ask questions later.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

We needed strikers, centre mids and fullbacks more than we needed a player of Hazard's profile in 2012. When players like Bellingham are avaliable you sign first and ask questions later.

I'm not disputing that but people act like they're competing for the same role. Sign Rice or Jude. Realistically you go for both with how perfectly they compliment each other. 

We also did that with Havertz a couple of years ago though and it went tits up. Generational talent but didn't account for Bundesliga tax. 

1 hour ago, RIP Mourinho said:

I'm not disputing that but people act like they're competing for the same role. Sign Rice or Jude. Realistically you go for both with how perfectly they compliment each other. 

 

Enzo Fernandes and Jude would compliment each other more.

31 minutes ago, Argo said:

Enzo Fernandes and Jude would compliment each other more.

How can you be so certain when neither have played together? Rice and Bellingham have showed the world how good they are together, what's the point of gambling on a player that has never played in a competitive league?

23 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

How can you be so certain when neither have played together? Rice and Bellingham have showed the world how good they are together, what's the point of gambling on a player that has never played in a competitive league?

I don't have the actual stats but if I had to guess the Portuguese league has the best success:flop rate of players coming into England.

I've probably missed someone obvious but apart from Bosingwa (and even he made ammends with his contribution in the 2012 UCL) I can't think of one major flop of the top of my head.

20 minutes ago, Argo said:

I don't have the actual stats but if I had to guess the Portuguese league has the best success:flop rate of players coming into England.

I've probably missed someone obvious but apart from Bosingwa (and even he made ammends with his contribution in the 2012 UCL) I can't think of one major flop of the top of my head.

Could quite easily end up with a Lindelof, Fabio Silva, Adrien Silva, Telles, Quaresma etc. 

3 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Could quite easily end up with a Lindelof, Fabio Silva, Adrien Silva, Telles, Quaresma etc. 

I knew I forgot a few obvious ones, but still a largely good rate given all the successes.

And signing "PL proven" players is hardly bulletproof either, as we've found out to our cost on many occasions.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

I knew I forgot a few obvious ones, but still a largely good rate given all the successes.

And signing "PL proven" players is hardly bulletproof either, as we've found out to our cost on many occasions.

Unlike Rice that needs a technical player next to him*, Edson Alvarez is capable of operating solo in a 4-3-3 and would be a much cheaper option. But again, if there is a chance to sign Jude it's a no brainer, I think Potter could put an academy player next to him.

*Maybe not but in any case Rice plays in a midfield of 2 so either way signing Rice solo wouldn't solve much but signing Jude solo would be really impactful. 

Edited November 22, 20223 yr by Gol15

4 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

I'm not disputing that but people act like they're competing for the same role. Sign Rice or Jude. Realistically you go for both with how perfectly they compliment each other. 

We also did that with Havertz a couple of years ago though and it went tits up. Generational talent but didn't account for Bundesliga tax. 

If it's possible to sign both that would be over 200m for them. Not sure how realistic is it so expect both of them but if it's possible it's a statement move.

Do everything to sign him, offer them £75m in Jan and say it's for the summer and we'll loan him back or have the signing announced later. While everyone is on the Judd hope (rightly so) Rice is made for us he's everything we need in the pivot. Having him and a fit Kova would be great. We could also sign another box to box to play in the pivot with Rice. 

Either way get him ASAP, if Todd manages to bring in Nkunku and Rice for the summer. I'll finally start to trust him again and believe in the bigger picture. Which I hope there is one

15 hours ago, Gol15 said:

If it's possible to sign both that would be over 200m for them. Not sure how realistic is it so expect both of them but if it's possible it's a statement move.

Believe in Todd

On 22/11/2022 at 02:27, RIP Mourinho said:

Rice and Bellingham aren't even close to the same profile of player so its a meaningless point. A holding mid to allow two numbers 8's to press is what we need, to replace J5. Bellingham would be signed for a 'box to box' role. 

They are both box to box midfielders. Speak to any West Ham fan and ask if Rice is a holding midfielder. 

Soucek sits. Rice advances. 

 

 

14 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

They are both box to box midfielders. Speak to any West Ham fan and ask if Rice is a holding midfielder. 

Soucek sits. Rice advances. 

 

 

My next door neighbour is born and bred Wet Spam as is his whole family. He had a season ticket for many years. You are right. He will tell Rice isn't a sit and stay holding midfielder. He will also tell you neither is Soucek.

We are the ONLY epl team who have a sit and stay defensive midfielder. And to make it worse, who can't actually defend very well.

22 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

They are both box to box midfielders. Speak to any West Ham fan and ask if Rice is a holding midfielder. 

Soucek sits. Rice advances. 

 

 

They play in a pivot, Soucek gets forward as much as Rice. 

If we sign him he'll be playing the role he's played for England during their most successful period, as the lone DM. 

52 minutes ago, just said:

My next door neighbour is born and bred Wet Spam as is his whole family. He had a season ticket for many years. You are right. He will tell Rice isn't a sit and stay holding midfielder. He will also tell you neither is Soucek.

We are the ONLY epl team who have a sit and stay defensive midfielder. And to make it worse, who can't actually defend very well.

Maybe that's why West Ham is 16th best in the PL right now.

36 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

Maybe that's why West Ham is 16th best in the PL right now.

I do know for sure it's a big part of the reason Arsenal, Man City,  Tottenham, Newcastle, Liverpool and yes, even Brighton are above us.

Not one has a physically weak, slow, sit and stay defensive midfielder playing for them.

56 minutes ago, just said:

I do know for sure it's a big part of the reason Arsenal, Man City,  Tottenham, Newcastle, Liverpool and yes, even Brighton are above us.

Not one has a physically weak, slow, sit and stay defensive midfielder playing for them.

Let's then sign someone from those teams instead. Someone like e.g. Bruno Guilmaraes. Yes?

Edited November 23, 20223 yr by Gol15

2 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

If we sign him he'll be playing the role he's played for England during their most successful period, as the lone DM. 

Rice partnered Phillips. Was never the loan DM. And I’d be worried if our aspirations are to be a sit and counter attack team. 
 

 

35 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

Let's then sign someone from those teams instead. Someone like e.g. Bruno Guilmaraes. Yes?

Works for me Gol. But we could aim for a double whammy and try get them to go for a player swap with Jorginho. That's a win, win.

 

I guess there's a perception of me now that I'll be willing him to fail if he joins us.

Quite the opposite, I'll be absolutely delighted if I've got this wrong because the alternatives aren't even worth thinking about.

3 hours ago, just said:

My next door neighbour is born and bred Wet Spam as is his whole family. He had a season ticket for many years. You are right. He will tell Rice isn't a sit and stay holding midfielder. He will also tell you neither is Soucek.

We are the ONLY epl team who have a sit and stay defensive midfielder. And to make it worse, who can't actually defend very well.

That's not true though, one of the big modern tactical "crazes" is for the holding midfielder to split in between the centre half's in certain phases of play (as the commentator on the Spain game has as I posted pointed out that Rodri does for City).

They can't do that if they're bombing forward at will.

58 minutes ago, just said:

Works for me Gol. But we could aim for a double whammy and try get them to go for a player swap with Jorginho. That's a win, win.

 

Jorginho is leaving after the season is over anyway...

Rice will have 1 year left on his contract in the summer, which West Ham can and likely will extend by 1 year. They know their peak point to sell is the summer and they also know no matter how much money they chuck at him he won't sign a new deal.

He will be sold in the summer, they have to to maximize his value.

22 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Rice partnered Phillips. Was never the loan DM. And I’d be worried if our aspirations are to be a sit and counter attack team. 
 

 

Rice sat while Phillips roamed (similar to Kante) last tournament. I assume you watched the opener this year though? Started off with Rice and Jude in a pivot with Mount in front but after half an hour transitioned to Rice holding with Jude and Mount as number 8's. 30 minutes onwards is when England came to life.