“My top target” Lampard says he wanted to sign ‘world-class’ player for Chelsea but he could join Arsenal now
Frank Lampard’s top transfer priority at Chelsea, Declan Rice, appears to be joining Arsenal this summer.
Rice, the captain of West Ham United and one of the nation’s top midfielders, has been linked with a move to a big club for some time now due to his impressive performances over the past few years.
Lampard, speaking on the Steven Bartlett and The Diary of a CEO podcast, revealed that he had a genuine desire to sign Rice and considered him his main objective at Chelsea.
The departure of Declan Rice from West Ham this summer seemed inevitable, and it now seems likely that he will be joining Arsenal.
The Gunners and the Hammers reached an agreement over a week ago, and now that Rice has been granted permission to complete the transfer, it should not take long for it to be officially announced by The Athletic.
The news of Rice’s move to Arsenal has delighted the club’s fans, but it is understandable that Chelsea fans might feel frustrated. Rice was previously released from the Blues’ academy, and they had several opportunities in recent times to reacquire him.
Lampard’s acknowledgment that Rice was his main priority while he was the manager at Chelsea will only further fuel the disappointment among Chelsea supporters, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
Despite Chelsea’s financial capabilities to outspend Arsenal, their chances of signing someone like Rice were slim after finishing 12th in the Premier League last season.
Interestingly, Arsenal managed to outbid even Manchester City for Rice’s services, putting them in a more favorable position compared to a club that narrowly missed out on the league title.
Although the transfer has not been officially announced yet, reliable journalist David Ornstein stated last night that it has been finalized. An announcement is expected very soon.