Pellegrini ready to wheel and deal but Rice ‘untouchable’

Manuel Pellegrini’s determination to recruit another central defender means he will almost certainly have to offload one of the current squad given his determination to bring in two midfielders.

But should that be the case young Declan Rice has been named an ‘untouchable’ with whom the club are keen to discuss a new deal in detail.

The new boss – having recruited €30 million Issa Diop – is understood to believe that he needs another top class operator at the heart of the back line although Alfie Mawson is slipping off the radar.

It all means that Angelo Ogbonna or Winston Reid could well be vulnerable as the Chilean manager sorts out what will be very much HIS squad.

With around £40 million of the £75 million budget spent Pellegrini will know he has to wheel and deal to fulfil his immediate requirements  but Rice – a player of huge potential – has been described to ClaretandHugh as definitely “not for sale.”

It’s the only restriction on the new manager and his director of football Mario Housillos who will be handed all the cash he generates from sales as he sets about a radical overhaul of the squad.

It means that Pellegrini will have an entirely free hand on who stays as he bids to bring in the “better players” he has spoken of publicly.