‘Declan Rice is the one for me’

Chelsea legend Frank Leboeuf has earmarked Declan Rice as the perfect replacement for N’golo Kante.

The ex-Blues defender believes his former side need to strengthen their midfield, despite Todd Boehly spending more than £250million on new signings in the summer transfer window.

Chelsea brought in several new recruits with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella all joining the west London club.

However, after a poor start the campaign, Thomas Tuchel was relieved of his duties and replaced with Graham Potter.

The club remain unbeaten under the former Brighton boss, sitting fifth in the Premier League, while they also top their Champions League group.

However, despite everything going to plan, Leboeuf insists the club needs a new central midfielder to replace the injured Kante – who is also out of contract at the end of the season and could be set to depart.

“The only position I think Chelsea need to strengthen in is central midfield as a potential replacement for N’Golo Kante,” he told FairBettingSites.

“Kante is out for about four months and while Jorginho is a great player he is not defensively-minded. Mateo Kovacic is a good player, and he does his job well, but he needs a partner.

“Declan Rice is the one for me. It would be very, very interesting if Kante left, I would love to see them go and get Rice from West Ham.

“I get goosebumps thinking of Mason Mount and Declan Rice playing together at Chelsea because they are academy graduates and that’s what fans want to see.

“Manchester United are missing the point with their transfer policy of just buying big stars. They need to remember the Neville brothers, Beckham, Scholes, Giggs etc. all came through the system and provided the backbone of the greatest period in the club’s history.

“The biggest figure in Chelsea’s recent history is John Terry, who OK started at West Ham but he’s Chelsea through and through and came through the academy like Mason Mount.

“Declan Rice belongs to Chelsea, like Conor Gallagher.”

Rice came through the ranks at Chelsea, before he was released as a teenager, later joining West Ham.

The England international has gone on to make over 200 appearances for the Hammers and become their club captain following club hero Mark Noble’s retirement, whilst continuing to shine in the Premier League.

Chelsea were heavily linked with a move for the 23-year-old when Frank Lampard was at the helm, but it remains to be seen whether Potter believes Rice is the man to bolster his midfield.