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Chelsea defensive midfielder scouting series part four: Declan Rice

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Declan Rice of West Ham United and Christian Pulisic of Chelsea battle for the ball during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea FC at London Stadium on July 01, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Declan Rice of West Ham United and Christian Pulisic of Chelsea battle for the ball during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea FC at London Stadium on July 01, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s English striker Tammy Abraham (L) speaks with West Ham United’s English midfielder Declan Rice (R) on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in London on December 21, 2020. – Chelsea won the game 3-0. (Photo by John Walton / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE.
Chelsea’s English striker Tammy Abraham (L) speaks with West Ham United’s English midfielder Declan Rice (R) on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in London on December 21, 2020. – Chelsea won the game 3-0. (Photo by John Walton / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. /

Conclusion

David Moyes has to be given a lot of credit for Rice’s development too. He has constantly found ways to maximize Rice’s influence on the team. He has trusted him and given him the environment to ply his trade, while still placing demands of a top player on him. Rice is the vice-captain of West Ham, so he clearly has leadership qualities. As skipper Mark Noble has frequently  been out of the side, Rice has captained West Ham in a lot of matches.

Rice clearly has the perfect blend of defensive awareness and efficient passing that would be perfect for Chelsea. Tuchel has decided on a 3-4-3 for the rest of the season, but if he chooses to switch to something different in the new season, he could need another midfielder. Depending on the formation he switches to, Rice might be the ideal buy. A 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 would mean Rice will fit seamlessly into the team. He has often played in a two-man midfield with Tomas Soucek, who compliments him perfectly. Rice could partner Mateo Kovacic, who brings the dribbling, press resistance and passing to the midfield, while Rice sits back and makes sure that Chelsea is not vulnerable in counter attacks. He would offer Tuchel different options tactically.

His pressing means that he’d deny teams time on the ball, to the satisfaction of Tuchel, he’d be key in winning the ball back as soon as it’s lost. His long ball accuracy means that he’d be able to pick out runners to start attacks, sometimes able to give an advantage to Chelsea to catch sloppy defenses out.

Rice is only 22, and while he’s already a very good player, he’d only get better from here. According to Transfermarkt he’s worth €60 million and his contract runs until 2024. Lampard had Rice at the top of his list, and seemed to want no one else (he can just take a lot at the series), perhaps that was what irritated the board. The fact that the Blues had released him for free in 2014, coupled with the price tag West Ham were demanding, may have also played a significant part in discouraging the deal. If Chelsea is going to get him away from West Ham, it’d have to pay big, as he’s already putting up numbers matching a player of much more maturity, while still just 22.

Next. Chelsea defensive midfielder scouting series part three: Kalvin Phillips. dark

Data from WhoScored, SofaScore, FBRef and Transfermarkt on April 30, 2021.

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