Report: Chelsea looking to raise funds for £65m Rice bid

A report in the Guardian claims Chelsea are looking at ways to raise £65m to make a formal bid for Declan Rice suggesting that Frank Lampard is considering cashing in on Italian star Jorginho as the best way to do it

Speculation increased on Friday when Jorginho’s agent João Santos told Radio Kiss Kiss “Everyone knows there is a very strong rapport between [Juventus manager Maurizio] Sarri and Jorginho after five years working together, I’d be a hypocrite to deny that, but I also want to remind you that Jorginho has three years left on his Chelsea contract.”

It is understood Lampard reportedly would be happy to sell either Jorginho or Kante to fund his rebuild of Chelsea heading into his second season. Kante has been linked with a £70million move to Real Madrid, while those Jorginho rumours persist.

The sale of either player could be the catalyst for Chelsea to mount a formal bid.

There is no suggestion that David Moyes wants to put Declan Rice is up for sale or that the defensive midfielder is about to hand in a transfer request.