Declan Rice ‘would join Chelsea if Mason Mount wasn’t leaving for Man Utd’

Darren Ambrose has claimed Declan Rice would be joining Chelsea this summer had Mason Mount’s future not been up for debate. The West Ham captain is childhood friends with the Blues attacking midfielder following their time playing together in Chelsea’s Cobham academy but now Mount looks poised to move onto pastures new this summer.

Rice is also heading for the exit door at West Ham with Arsenal in the box-seat for his signature despite seeing two bids rejected by the Hammers.

Talks are continuing over a deal and Arsenal are expected to try their luck with a third bid that could come close to West Ham’s £100m proposal.

Yet rewind the clock 18 months and Rice had actually looked poised to return to Chelsea if he was to leave West Ham but a move to Stamford Bridge is now seemingly off the table.

Ambrose claims Mount’s future – with a move to Manchester United the most likely outcome this summer – is part of the reason behind that although it must also be recognised that Chelsea are currently unlikely to spend £100m on one signing due to FFP relegations.

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“This situation with Mason Mount at Chelsea, it definitely would have come into play,” said Ambrose.

“If Mason Mount was a regular at Chelsea now, flying and playing in the first-team like he used to, then I think he would be on the phone to Rice saying, ‘Get yourself to Chelsea midfield partner’.

“And that would come into play, whether people would like to think it would or not. As a friend being at a football club, I had it with Benty (Darren Bent) at Charlton, it does come into play.”

Speaking to Gary Neville in an episode of The Overlap, Rice reaffirmed that his family were Chelsea supporters – making his release at Stamford Bridge as a 14-year-old even more painful.

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“Yeah, growing up the whole family was Chelsea,” Rice said.

He later continued: “I feel like it’s out there, everyone knows, it’s well documented. But I feel like when you play for a club like West Ham you become really affiliated to it, and there’s part of me now – and my family as well – that is a massive West Ham fan.”

Chelsea are in the market for midfielders but the Blues are currently prioritising a move for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.

Arsenal remain the frontrunners for Rice and their chances of landing the player have been boosted by his desire to remain close to his family.

During the interview with Neville, Rice confirmed he would ideally like to stay close to his roots in Kingston-upon-Thames in South West London.

“Do you still have a house around here?” Asked Neville.

“Yeah, I’m here all the time,” Rice replied, adding: “I’ve always wanted to stay close to this place, I feel like I don’t want to lose my roots.”

Manchester City are believed to be Arsenal’s strongest rivals for Rice after Bayern Munich withdrew their interest.

Everton want to sign Leeds United Winger, Crysencio Summervile. A deal for the Dutch Winger could cost around £12M.

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