Former Chelsea assistant Jody Morris revealed that Declan Rice had previously expressed a wish to return to Stamford Bridge via text. Rice was heavily linked with a move back to Chelsea before joining Arsenal for more than £100 million this summer.
Rice began his career at Chelsea before joining West Ham United, where he prospered. The midfielder has become as one of the world’s best, but also one of Chelsea’s most costly blunders in recent decades.
It appeared to be a mistake they were willing to admit, with plans to acquire Rice back for a significant sum, but the deal fell through, and Arsenal arrived first. Rice, however, was willing to return to Stamford Bridge, according to former Chelsea coach Morris.
“I messagedn Decla Rice when I was at Chelsea and asked him if he’d come back, even after being released by the club,” Morris said on the William Hill and Footy Accumulators podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football.
“He was a centre-half back then, and many people argued he shouldn’t have been released at the time, but in retrospect, it was arguably the greatest thing for him, given all the amazing things he went on to achieve at West Ham.
“I was continually on Frank Lampard’s case about how incredible Rice would be for us when N’Golo Kante kept getting hurt; he wasn’t sure at first, but a month later he was all over him! So we asked Declan if he wanted to come back, and he answered, “I’m a Chelsea fan, of course I would!” From then on, Lampard spoke with him, and the club’s upper members spoke with his parents. In the end, it was put on hold in favor of a few other signings.
“I didn’t end up going through, but they were estimating approximately £60-65 million at the time, which would have been a steal for someone who could have easily stayed at the club for a decade. Rice is a standout player in my opinion, and I’m quite enthused about England’s current midfield.
Rice has proven his quality in an England shirt, for West Ham, and now at Arsenal with a superior club, where he is excelling week after week.”
