Four alternatives to Rice for Chelsea to pursue this summer

FT Desk

• Updated: 15 Apr 2022 14:05 CDT
• 4 min read

There’s little doubt that Chelsea will need to make some serious changes to their squad if they’re to get back to the top next season.

Although Thomas Tuchel’s side are still in with a shot of winning this season’s FA Cup, their poor form has seen them stumble out of the Premier League title race and crash out of the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.

As such, the club will look to bring in fresh faces and it seems as though midfield may be exactly where they’ll start, with West Ham star Declan Rice heavily linked with a move to the club on a seemingly weekly basis.

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However, while Rice may do a perfectly good job at Chelsea, there are better alternatives in midfield for the club that perhaps won’t break the bank this summer.

Gavi - Barcelona

If Chelsea want to sign an alternative to Rice then they'll have to find a young player that is showing as much promise as the West Ham star and they may well find that in Barcelona prospect Gavi.

Although the Spain international has only just begun his career at the Catalan giants, he's already shown a remarkable ability to play as a complete box-to-box talent and would fit into the same role as Rice with little difficulty.

What's more, the 17-year-old star only has a contract until 2023 and unless Barca can convince him to sign a new one soon, Chelsea may be able to pounce this summer.

Jude Bellingham - Dortmund

Rather than waste their money on Rice, Chelsea would perhaps be better putting their money towards the player that will likely be rivaling the West Ham star for his spot in the England team for the next five or 10 years.

Although Jude Bellingham was once on Manhcester United's radar when he was just a prospect at Birmingham City, neither they nor Chelsea can continue to deny or ignore the player he is quickly becoming.

And while the Dortmund star may end up costing as much as Rice this summer or the year after that, he offers just as much promise and could potentially end up being a better box-to-box talent than his West Ham counterpart.

Youri Tielemans - Leicester City

Another potential transfer target that would likely make far more sense for the Blues would be Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans.

Like Rice, Tielemans has been lighting up the Premier League with his ability to defend counter attacks and spark his own side’s attacks into life with relative ease. However, unlike Rice, the Belgium international is unlikely to come with an inflated price tag due to the fact that he isn’t English.

With his contract set to expire in 2023 and no extension in sight, Chelsea could end up signing the midfielder for much less than Rice would likely cost even though he’s just as good a player.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - Tottenham

While he may not be the most remarkable name to be linked with a move to Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg is one of the most underrated box-to-box talents in the Premier League and undoubtedly a player that could do a good job in the Old Trafford midfield.

Although the Denmark international only made the move to Spurs in 2020, he may already be proving too good for the side as they struggle for another top four finish.

Even with Daniel Levy’s negotiating skills taken into account, Hojbjerg would still cost nowhere near as much as Rice but offer just as much talent in the middle of the pitch.