Declan Rice is on Chelsea's wishlist - tonight is the perfect audition (2024)

For all the impressive pipeline of talent now finally emerging through the ranks at Stamford Bridge, did they let a star-in-the-making in Declan Rice unknowingly slip through their fingers?

When asked if Chelsea made a mistake in releasing the midfielder as a 14-year-old, manager Frank Lampard was unequivocal in his response: '[We] wouldn't say it's a regret.'

But tonight, seven years after being dropped from the Blues' youth system, the Hammers linchpin has the chance to prove Lampard wrong.

West Ham, who've had a strong start to the season under David Moyes, have the opportunity to leapfrog Chelsea with a victory on Monday evening - they're currently one point behind.

The concept of a surprise Hammers victory is not particularly far-fetched either. Not when you consider that they did the double over Chelsea last season and the fact that Lampard's side are coming into this game off the back of two consecutive defeats.

But for Rice, the opportunity is bigger than just three points, amid rumours of a £70m return across the capital in January after a whole summer's worth of rumours about a switch to west London.

Since his West Ham debut in 2017, Rice has developed into a reliable, athletic and influential workhorse in the centre of midfield.

Added to that, his reading of the game and inherent ability to win his individual battles week-in week-out has made people sit up and take notice - not least bosses at the FA, as they persuaded the Kingston local to change national allegiance from the Republic of Ireland to England two years ago.

Rice made his debut for Gareth Southgate's side in March 2019 and has not looked back - he has already registered 13 caps and scored his first goal for his country last month. Now, he is one of the first names on the teamsheet.

But being a starring light for a club outside the top-six makes you a near-automatic pick for inclusions in gossip columns across the country. Just ask Jack Grealish - and it's been no different with Rice.

The frontrunners have always been Chelsea, with the romanticism of a return to the club where it all started for Rice not lost on fans and the media alike.

Despite his release at 14, Rice formed a close friendship with Chelsea attacking midfielder Mason Mount and the pair regularly spend time together outside of their professional commitments.

That friendship has been well publicised, especially since Mount's emergence in the Blues first-team under Lampard this season, which resulted in an England call-up a matter of months after Rice's debut.

But beyond his relationship with Mount, there is one standout reason Chelsea continue to pursue a potential deal: for the £230m Lampard spent in the summer, a top-quality defensive midfielder remains top of the shopping list.

The Blues' huge summer outlay focused predominantly on strengthening in attack, with stars such as Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech brought in amid huge clamour.

But a central midfielder was not acquired. Jorginho, N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic remain Lampard's options in the middle, but you sense that a senior signing is in the offing sooner rather than later.

Rice fits the mould, almost ideally. Young, already proven in the Premier League and with bags of potential. He'll barely have to relocate too.

Even Lampard himself admitted how impressed he was with Rice's first few years at first-team level, saying on Friday:'He's a fantastic player for West Ham and England.

'It shows a strength of character...Declan deserves personal credit for the start he has had at West Ham.'

High praise for a player who will be Chelsea's main concern at the Bridge, as they look to get back to winning ways.

But from a purely personal point of view, Rice could set in motion a big-money move back to Chelsea come the new year, should he grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

Ultimately any transfer, particularly given West Ham's hefty £80m asking price, will boil down to: is Rice better than what Chelsea already have? Tonight, he has the most perfect of auditions to prove he is.