Chelsea could really do with some carbs provided by rice. Not to be confused with Declan Rice, who Chelsea really does not need.
Rice is fantastic. It is packed full of nutrients and is a great carb for athletes to be eating. Chelsea could always do with more of the food.
The rice the Blues absolutely do not need more of is Declan Rice. Rice, a former Chelsea youth and best friend of Mason Mount, was let go for a reason. His time at West Ham has not really done anything to force the Blues’ hand over him
Yet the Blues are linked to him regardless, at least by the once reliable Sky Sports, so the rumor is worth taking a look at. It is bad. Chelsea should know it is bad. The Blues should steer clear.
First of all, the only reason this is even a rumor is because of his past Chelsea affiliation. Fans want the Blues to use their youth products. The media knows this and pushes the rumors of the “ones that got away”. It is a certain type of sentimentality that is working well when it comes to the likes of Tammy Abraham or Mount, but less so when it is about the past players who were rightfully let go.
Beyond that, if anyone thought the prices passed around about most United Kingdom players were silly, they would pale in comparison to what Rice would cost Chelsea. West Ham would not be kind to their London rival if this rumor was anything more than smoke.
But wait, there is more! Chelsea already has players who could fill a role similar to Rice. Ethan Ampadu may not have seen much of the field this season, but he would be preferable to Rice based on Premier League matches nearly two years ago. Even running Trevoh Chalobah or Andreas Christensen in midfield would be preferable.
Chelsea does need a defensive midfielder to at least deputize N’Golo Kante if not play alongside him. But there are many A: cheaper, B: more available, and C: simply better options available this summer than Rice. Realistically, the only thing Rice has going for him in regards to the Blues is his home grown status and the fact that Mount would be pretty happy with the move.
Chelsea would be better off using whatever funds they would use to buy Rice to instead buy that cheaper, more available, and better player and use the remaining earmarked runs to buy rice. The food. A couple million pounds worth of rice. That shows how silly this rumor and/potential deal is for the Blues.
Okay, maybe Rice is not as bad as all that. But the Blues to be bringing in players that will improve the team. Sentimental buys that, at best, keep the team in the same place they were already are pointless. This would be the type of stagnant move that Chelsea has specialized in during recent seasons.
Therefore, Rice must be avoided. But rice? Bring all that in. It is good stuff.