Chelsea have decided which player they most want to acquire next summer
Chelsea boss Graham Potter instructs his players against Red Bull Salzburg(Image credit: Getty)
Chelsea have made Declan Rice their number one transfer target for 2023, according to reports.
The Blues have a long-term interest in the England international, who was on their books as a teenager before being let go by the academy.
Graham Potter recently replaced Thomas Tuchel in the Stamford Bridge dugout, but he too is an admirer of him.
Declan Rice is still on Chelsea's radar despite their change of manager (Image credit: Getty)
According to 90min, Chelsea will focus their recruitment efforts next summer on prising Rice away from West Ham.
The midfielder will not come cheap, having previously been valued by Hammers boss David Moyes at £150m.
Rice is under contract at the London Stadium until 2024, but West Ham have an option to extend his deal by another 12 months.
The aforementioned report states that Todd Boehly enquired about Rice in June, only to be told that he was not for sale.
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West Ham could be more open to a deal ahead of next season, though, especially if they miss out on European qualification this term.
And Rice, who will turn 24 in January, may believe that 2023 is the right time for him to take the next step in his career.
David Moyes has previously valued Declan Rice at £150m (Image credit: Steve Bardens – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Chelsea are keen to refresh their midfield at the end of the campaign, when Jorginho and N'Golo Kante will both be out of contract.
The club has not yet decided whether to offer new deals to the pair, but both players are over 30 and are not long-term options in the centre of the park.
Meanwhile, Potter's side ran out 3-0 winners against AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Chelsea return to Premier League action against Wolves on Saturday (Image credit: Getty)
That was their first victory in Europe this season and moved the Blues into second place in Group E.
Chelsea will return to Premier League action against Wolves, who sacked manager Bruno Lage last weekend, on Saturday afternoon.
James Collins and Steve Davis will be in caretaker charge of the visitors.
More Chelsea stories
In other transfer news, the Blues are thought to be at the front of the queue to sign AC Milan sensation Rafael Leao.
Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).
