Todd Boehly has spent nearly £500million since becoming the new owner of Chelsea (Picture: Getty
Gus Poyet has urged Chelsea to continue their unprecedented January spending spree by breaking the bank to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice.
The England international has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge almost relentlessly over the last three years and now appears ready to take the next step in his career.
Both Manchester giants are also monitoring the 24-year-old’s situation as are Arsenal who now view rice as their No.1 summer transfer target as they look to provide competition for Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.
Chelsea have spent approaching £500million already since Todd Boehly bought the club from Roman Abramovich with Noni Madueke becoming their sixth signing of the January window alone on Friday night.
Despite the numerous additions, central midfield remains a concern, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding N’Golo Kante’s fitness and long-term future as his contract nears its expiry.
Chelsea have already ruined Arsenal’s transfer plans by stealing Myhailo Mudryk away from the Premier League leaders and former Blues midfielder believes his old club need to act just as decisively in order to land Rice ahead of the Gunners.
He Online Betting Guide: ‘I think Chelsea have been waiting to see what the situation is regarding the injury with [N’Golo] Kante, and because I don’t think they can see an end, I would buy Rice now.
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‘I would even say yesterday, they should have gone and got him. Definitely there is a Chelsea with a top Kante at his best and a different one without him.
‘I said it when he came from Leicester and the first year he played for Chelsea, for me he was the best central defensive midfield player in the world.
‘Now I am still convinced that when you are missing a player like that for so long, first because he was played on the right by [Maurizio] Sarri, and then because of the injury, you must replace him.
‘Nothing against Jorginho, [Mateo] Kovacic, nothing to do with that – we are talking about levels.
‘I think it is important as well for the British side, you know the English side, as well in the midfield that you have that leader and for many years you can have such a good player.’
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