Chelsea have been linked with a move for West Ham captain Declan Rice for the last few years now. The Blues let Rice leave at a young age but the England international could now be closing in on a return to Stamford Bridge after nearly nine years.
The 23-year-old midfielder joined Chelsea's academy back in 2006 before being released eight years later, in turn joining the Hammers youth setup. Rice is now considered to be one of the most talented midfielders in the Premier League with a number of top clubs, including the Blues and Liverpool monitoring his situation at West Ham.
His close friendship with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has continued to spark speculation as to whether the Hammers star will return to Stamford Bridge after he recently admitted that he wants to challenge for the big trophies like some of his England teammates. As we enter 2023 in the next week, the 23-year-old will enter the final 18 months of his current deal with West Ham who are facing their final chances to secure a big return on their star player.
