Chelsea have seemingly lost out on signing Declan Rice despite years of interest in the West Ham United midfielder and football.london takes a look at how that has happened
"One hundred per cent, I want to play in the Champions League."
The comments of Declan Rice last year. For Rice, it is as simple as that. And who can really blame him? West Ham United surely can't and at this stage, after years of interest in the England international, neither can Chelsea.
Following his release from Chelsea as a teenager, the club have always kept an eye on his development and ever since breaking into the West Ham first-team at the age of 18, his progression has accelerated rapidly. Now, more than six years on from his first-team debut, the 24-year-old captains the Hammers and is one of the first names on Gareth Southgate's team-sheet in the England senior side.
However, the summer where he actually looks attainable and West Ham are more open to selling because of his contractual situation, Chelsea have not qualified for any European competition. There have been enquiries this summer for Rice but the midfielder's intention is to play in Europe's elite competition next season so Arsenal were always a more attractive proposition than Chelsea.
Now, though, the Blues are pushing hard to sign Moises Caicedo. One positive from the Rice saga is that Arsenal's confidence in signing the West Ham man has seen them seemingly pull out of the race to sign Caicedo, making things a tad simpler for Chelsea.
We all know, however, just how stubborn Brighton can be when it comes to selling one of their prized assets. The Seagulls now have something of a reputation of signing relatively unknown talents and developing them into superstars and selling for profit after progressing at the Amex Stadium.
Caicedo has been on the club's radar for a while now. Chelsea tried to sign him in the January transfer window but Brighton were reluctant to do so and they priced the Blues out of a move. This time around, however, the Seagulls are understood to be more open to allowing the 21-year-old to leave, with more time to find a suitable replacement.
Chelsea are also looking at Romeo Lavia from Southampton. The Belgian midfielder impressed in the Saints' relegation season in the Premier League and has attracted numerous Premier League clubs this summer.
Southampton want £50million for Lavia's signature with Manchester City having a buyback clause, believed to be £40million, that comes into effect next summer. Chelsea will try to sign Lavia for less than £50million as they consider making a move for the 19-year-old midfielder.
football.london understands Chelsea want to sign both Caicedo and Lavia, rather than one or the other. With so many central midfielders, like N'Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic and Conor Gallagher expected to leave Stamford Bridge over the course of the summer, replacements are needed.
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