Tony Cottee believes Chelsea would be Declan Rice's preferred choice should he decide to leave West Ham.
The England international has been the subject of interest from Manchester United and Chelsea in recent transfer windows.
That speculation could intensify next summer thanks to Rice's outstanding form for the Hammers so far this season.
Former West Ham star Cottee told Betting Expert: 'If Declan was to decide to leave, I think he'll go to Chelsea.
'The reason for that is he was at Chelsea as a kid. He is best friends with Mason Mount, and he's grew up with all the young kids at the club.
'You know, Tammy Abraham, he's in Italy now, but he grew up with him and Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Reece James. All those young boys that are playing so well for Chelsea, Declan is friends with them.'
Cottee added that he believes West Ham will need to win a cup or qualify for the Champions League to keep hold of their star player.
He said: 'It doesn’t have to be the Europa League. It could be the FA Cup, it could be the Carabao Cup. But winning a cup and Declan enjoying the feeling of winning with West Ham.
'The club hasn’t won a cup for 41 years now. It’ll be 42 years next year. 1980. So a long, long time.'
He added: 'And the other way, of course, is to get into the Champions League.'
Rice was the subject of interest from Chelsea under Frank Lampard's helm at the club.
The 22-year-old was at Chelsea before he was released from their academy at the age of 14 and joined West Ham.
Recently, he has been more strongly linked with Manchester United who are in need of strengthening their midfield from current options Scott McTominay, Fred and Nemanja Matic.
Andy_Mac
0
you're 791 day old and you're suggesting I uninstalled the app that's an insult we were the rise and fall if all football app we were there wen you were not there so keep shut please
Yes please uninstall the app. The AF community will be a better place when you click on "uninstall". You should try it. And the best part about that is that it's free of charge 😁
TryNuell
0
No I won't. If you don't like it, then uninstall the app 😂
you're 791 day old and you're suggesting I uninstalled the app that's an insult we were the rise and fall if all football app we were there wen you were not there so keep shut please
Andy_Mac
0
Drinkwater has won Pl with Leicester 😂.Which Rice hasn't won yet
Ryan Bertrand has won the UCL - something which Tierney has never won, so what's your point?
lord_henry-14
1
Don't ever compare him to Drinkwater bro 🙏🙏 That's like comparing Arteta with Klopp
Drinkwater has won Pl with Leicester 😂.Which Rice hasn't won yet
Andy_Mac
0
at Chelsea he will end up like drink water At Arsenal he will play regular football
Don't ever compare him to Drinkwater bro 🙏🙏 That's like comparing Arteta with Klopp
Kucbcksuyz
0
the future frank Lampard for Chelsea
lord_henry-14
0
Keep dreaming 😂😂 He's our former academy player and his best friend is at Chelsea. I don't know if he has any close friends at Arsenal. Just his England teammates, that's it. Moreover, Chelsea can guarantee UCL football - perfect for his development
at Chelsea he will end up like drink water At Arsenal he will play regular football
Andy_Mac
0
taaa shut up
No I won't. If you don't like it, then uninstall the app 😂
TryNuell
0
Lukaku that you spent millions on what has he done since he came?
he has been sweating
TryNuell
0
Who said we will spend 100 million for Rice? He can stay at West Ham and see out his contract and join us for free if we want. Rice will want to play for Chelsea because his best buddy Mount is here. West Ham are the lósers if they don't stay reasonable with their fee demands. We will sign Rice eventually. It's a matter of when and not if.
taaa shut up
jayford
0
we're not united that spend billions on English players
Lukaku that you spent millions on what has he done since he came?
jayford
0
Lol Ndidi is just more aggressive. That's about it. Rice is more efficient at everything he does. Rice is more comfortable in possession. His positioning is amazing. His reading of the game is much better than Ndidi. His ball control and dribbling is definitely better than Ndidi and he has just as good a long shot as Ndidi has. You couldn't be more wrong about this. And Rice is doing much more than Ndidi at the age of 22. He's even proving himself in the England national setup at the biggest stages like the Euro.
For real rice is really good he would suit man United best because I’m not sure he’ll start at Chelsea
Andy_Mac
0
who is Tony Cottee??Is he is an agent?Declan will leave for Arsenal 😍
Keep dreaming 😂😂 He's our former academy player and his best friend is at Chelsea. I don't know if he has any close friends at Arsenal. Just his England teammates, that's it. Moreover, Chelsea can guarantee UCL football - perfect for his development
Andy_Mac
0
ND we would choose Ndidi over him if we were to buy a defensive midfielder[Crylaugh]
[image]
For your defensive style of play, Ndidi could potentially be a better fit than Rice. If you want your players to have more of the ball and dictate the tempo of the game, Rice is the perfect guy.
Andy_Mac
0
we dont want him besides we can't biy an English player for over 100mil ever again
Who said we will spend 100 million for Rice? He can stay at West Ham and see out his contract and join us for free if we want. Rice will want to play for Chelsea because his best buddy Mount is here. West Ham are the lósers if they don't stay reasonable with their fee demands. We will sign Rice eventually. It's a matter of when and not if.
Andy_Mac
0
We don’t need him. Always overrated player. He is not even near the best 50 midfielders yet he will be priced over 100m
You're wrong. Declan is by far one of the most complete midfielders at his age in the PL. He has several good qualities which Man Utd desperately need. But fortunately because of his Chelsea connections, he will join us and not Man Utd.
Andy_Mac
0
Chelsea FC need three players next season 1. Priority no.1 Frederico Chiesa to replace injury prone Pulisic 2. Declan Rice to replace injury prone Kante 3. De Ligt to take over Thiago Silva Only the above mentioned players only
Ronald Araújo is better than de Ligt. I would prefer him at LCB if we can somehow persuade him to leave Barcelona
Andy_Mac
0
we need a defensive midfielder but we dont need Rice Ndidi is far better than rice the English media just over hip him like they did with Maguire
Oh yeah I also forgot to mention that Declan is better with both feet than Ndidi is.
Andy_Mac
0
we need a defensive midfielder but we dont need Rice Ndidi is far better than rice the English media just over hip him like they did with Maguire
Lol Ndidi is just more aggressive. That's about it. Rice is more efficient at everything he does. Rice is more comfortable in possession. His positioning is amazing. His reading of the game is much better than Ndidi. His ball control and dribbling is definitely better than Ndidi and he has just as good a long shot as Ndidi has. You couldn't be more wrong about this. And Rice is doing much more than Ndidi at the age of 22. He's even proving himself in the England national setup at the biggest stages like the Euro.
Andy_Mac
0
Am I the only who sees this guy too slow😕
Who is too slow?
Andy_Mac
0
enough of this overrated english players well Not all of them but transfer market is awful especially in epl I hope Ralf will get us potential players
Rice isn't overrated. If anything, he's actually underrated because he plays for West Ham
OyatunjiSeun
3
Examples of Big Coaches *Thomas Tuchel: PSG=Chelsea *Pep Guardiola: Barcelona=Manchester City *Jurgen Klopp: Dortmund=Liverpool *Julen Lopetengui: Real Madrid=Sevilla * Maurizio Sarri: Juventus= Lazio * Antonio Conte: Inter Milan=Tottenham *Jon Naggelsman: Rb Leipzig=Bayern Munich *Carlo Ancelloti: Everton=Real Madrid @#--#-#-+++{[![[[[]]()))}]{+=[?@>#-&^™![[[[£]]??]] 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 See more,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, And here comes Ralf Rangnick the acclaimed God Father of Klopp and the Almighty Thomas Tactical Tuchel (TTT) according to a certain bunch of confused Fan Base in Manchester with red Jersey 😂 who won his last Trophy as a coach in 2011. A man without any Tangible managerial history! I want to at this juncture State it clear to you that Ralf Rangnick is another Ole With a German Citizenship Take it or Leave it. Standing on the existing protocol I hereby inject pains to whosoever pain is due. @NoPeacefortheDevils
Mendy544
0
Chelsea FC need three players next season 1. Priority no.1 Frederico Chiesa to replace injury prone Pulisic 2. Declan Rice to replace injury prone Kante 3. De Ligt to take over Thiago Silva Only the above mentioned players only
what of a left back!??
Fazadekyz
1
enough of this overrated english players well Not all of them but transfer market is awful especially in epl I hope Ralf will get us potential players
JohnKamotaLM10
1
Am I the only who sees this guy too slow😕
sotilmruyz
0
I see very arrogant comments by Utd fans but Utd neen him more than Chelsea. He is the missing piece basically.
[image]
we need a defensive midfielder but we dont need Rice Ndidi is far better than rice the English media just over hip him like they did with Maguire
Unitedforlife6
2
Thanks for the info we already knew
j-blåck
0
We don't need him
TryNuell
0
You wish your team can spend money like United but isn’t possible 🖕
spend the money wisely Sancho, Maguire and soon you'll add Declan and they'll all flop
TryNuell
0
we??? I'm sorry are you the owner ?? talking like you control what the teams buy shut your mouth
shut up we can't waste money in over rated bulls
lord_henry-14
0
I never said you're bragging, you said that not me
Then what do you mean "if I am you I'd bite my tongue and wait for atleast February/March to see where Arsenal is before opening my mouth"??? You are sounding like I am bragging about our positions all day and night.
Mibbcdlorz
0
Rangnick has already idenfied Hadaira and Nkunku from Leipzig, so Chelsea can get overated English player.
honestly this guy is just delightful to watch (declan Rice)
erlinqhaaland
6
It's easy to replace Fred, Matic, Mctominay than Kante, Jorginho
ChelseaFC_Addict
0
You were talking so highly of Chelsea when they were at 9th last season in December,so don't expect anything from my side.Also your reading skills are so weak.First of all I am not bragging about Arsenal's position.I am just having fun here.
I never said you're bragging, you said that not me
lord_henry-14
1
😂😂🤣🤣Mate ,if I'm you I'd bite my tongue and wait for atleast until February/March games to see where Arsenal would be before opening my mouth. Tommorow you have Manchester united problems homie
You were talking so highly of Chelsea when they were at 9th last season in December,so don't expect anything from my side.Also your reading skills are so weak.First of all I am not bragging about Arsenal's position.I am just having fun here.
Teucemtyz
4
I see very arrogant comments by Utd fans but Utd neen him more than Chelsea. He is the missing piece basically.
Zedbeisuyz
7
We're tired of English players okay, you can choose any club exclude Manchester United
Gberto
2
Rangnick has already idenfied Hadaira and Nkunku from Leipzig, so Chelsea can get overated English player.
ChelseaFC_Addict
0
bodied the United clown 🤡 🤣
I don't blame you ,I'd be frustrated when my team was a midtable material languishing no.8
ARMEYMACS
0
Come on Sancho wouldn't play in that Chelsea side. He deserves to play for Manchester united with 24% ball possession
bodied the United clown 🤡 🤣
ChelseaFC_Addict
0
who is Tony Cottee??Is he is an agent?Declan will leave for Arsenal 😍
😂😂🤣🤣Mate ,if I'm you I'd bite my tongue and wait for atleast until February/March games to see where Arsenal would be before opening my mouth. Tommorow you have Manchester united problems homie
ChelseaFC_Addict
0
his too small for Manchester United
guess Fred is too big for Manchester united 😂😂🤣
ChelseaFC_Addict
0
You wish your team can spend money like United but isn’t possible 🖕
focus on improving from no.8 position young man ,Manchester united still have Arsenal problems tommorow
ChelseaFC_Addict
1
Once upon time,Sancho "would" Prefer Chelsea over Man utd 😂😂
[image]
Come on Sancho wouldn't play in that Chelsea side. He deserves to play for Manchester united with 24% ball possession
larryboss
0
Once upon time,Sancho "would" Prefer Chelsea over Man utd 😂😂
[image]
but Chelsea never want him
ChelseaFC_Addict
3
Chelsea FC need three players next season 1. Priority no.1 Frederico Chiesa to replace injury prone Pulisic 2. Declan Rice to replace injury prone Kante 3. De Ligt to take over Thiago Silva Only the above mentioned players only
somkmnortz
0
We don’t need him. Always overrated player. He is not even near the best 50 midfielders yet he will be priced over 100m
he's better than Fred and Mctominay
Bahdikos
0
that's why, he prefers Chelsea
Bahdikos
0
He knows where he can win trophies.. that boy is Wise
DesaiMiles
1
He is free to go