Report: Chelsea switch target away from Rice

Chelsea’s manager Frank Lampard has reportedly switched targets from Declan Rice to Jose Gimenez after being put off by West Ham’s £80m valuation of their star player.

A report by the Daily Star suggests the Atletico Madrid centre half is now their number one target and will cost the Blues £60m which £50m less than his release clause.

David Moyes has made it clear that Rice is not for sale unless Bank of England steel trucks turn up with bags of cash.

The report if true will come as welcome news to West Ham and supporters concerned that Chelsea’s financial muscle could turn the 21-year-old’s head.

Rice’s family are mostly Chelsea supporters and his his best friend is Mason Mount who remains a Chelsea player.

Rice was released from Chelsea’s Academy in 2014 aged 14 later joining West Ham’s academy the same year.

The defensive midfielder was born in Surrey not not far from Chelsea’s Cobham training ground and he continues to live in the area while in the process building a new house in Surrey.