Chelsea plot move to sign their own Rice

The new year has already brought about immense change for Chelsea Football Club.

Before midday on the first, it was already announced that the club had parted ways with Enzo Maresca, following a tense few weeks.

In his place, under-21 manager Calum McFarlane took charge of the game away to Manchester City, and despite being massive underdogs, oversaw a valiant 1-1 draw.

The man who looks primed to take charge of the team permanently seems to be Liam Rosenior, and in excellent news for him, Chelsea are reportedly eyeing up a move for someone who could end up being his own Declan Rice.

Chelsea target their own Declan Rice

With Maresca out of the picture, Chelsea need to bring in a permanent manager as soon as possible, and while nothing has been confirmed, it seems almost certain that Rosenior will be the man who gets the job.

The Englishman might be less experienced than some fans would like, but he’s already a part of BlueCo and has done a reasonably impressive job in charge of Strasbourg.

For example, since taking over the French outfit, the 41-year-old has overseen 63 games and averaged 1.75 points per game.

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However, to ensure he has the best chance of succeeding in West London, the board must hand him the best tools, which is what they appear determined to do.

At least, that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Chelsea are among several teams interested in Adam Wharton.

Alongside the Blues, the report states that Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid are all keen on the Crystal Palace star.

Unfortunately, the competition isn’t the only potential hurdle for this deal, as reports from late last year claimed that the 21-year-old could cost as much as £100m.

Therefore, it could be a costly and complicated transfer for Chelsea to get over the line, but given Wharton’s immense ability and potential, one they should fight for, especially as he could be Rosenior’s own Rice.

Why Wharton would be Chelsea’s Rice

While there are certainly some differences between Rice and Wharton, there are more than a few similarities, even down to their potential transfers.

For example, the former moved from one London club to another, and if Chelsea were to sign the latter, he too would be moving from one capital side to another.

Moreover, both would be moving for near enough the same amount, with the Gunners spending around £105m on their number 41, and as incredibly hyped stars, with one analyst dubbing the Palace star “the best U21 player in the Prem.”

The Eagles’ young star is also now a regular feature in senior England squads, and while his three caps pale in comparison to the former West Ham United captain’s 72, there is no doubt that he will eventually amass a considerable number of them.

Another impressive feat that the pair share is that they’ve both played a crucial role in their clubs, or, in Rice’s case, former club, winning major silverware.

For example, the 26-year-old captained the Hammers to Conference League glory in 2023, and the 21-year-old helped the South Londoners win the FA Cup last year.

Finally, both internationals are versatile midfielders, capable of playing as either a six or an eight.

This ability to influence all phases of play is translated into Wharton’s underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by former Sky Sports employee Matthew Stanger, ranks in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leauges for expected assisted goals, the top 7% for through balls, the top 8% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for goal-creating actions, the top 10% for ball recoveries and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, it would require a significant financial commitment, but Chelsea should do all they can to sign Wharton, as he could become Rosenior’s own Rice.

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