I don't want to go to Chelsea

With West Ham playing Chelsea tonight the transfer rumours in the press are inevitably suggesting that Chelsea will come in with a big bid for Declan Rice in the January transfer window. The Athletic has even cited Neto's winner for Wolves against Chelsea as the sort of goal Rice would have stopped. Another source has suggested a Man United bid.

It strikes me that Declan is a sensible lad with a feel for the club and if he looks rationally at his career we all hope he decides to stick with the Hammers. At 21 he is the main man at West Ham, playing in a team that is improving. If Chelsea signed him for a fee of £70million plus it would place immense pressure on both Rice and Frank Lampard. 

If Chelsea's massive splurge on players doesn't yield a trophy or Champions League qualification then it's likely that Abramovic would revert to his traditional ruthless self and sack Big Fat Frank. This could leave Rice with a new manager who doesn't rate him as highly as Lampard. Declan would also have to adjust to not playing every week. He'd be up against the best holding midfielder in the world in Ngolo Kante plus a host of other central midfielders at the club. Whereas if he stays at West Ham as captain he's going to be a really hot property by the time he's 23 or 24.

Nor is Rice the type of player who would strike in order to force a move. Hopefully the club will demand a ridiculous fee if any bids come in and Declan will continue to develop with WHU. Or to put it another way, stick your blue flag up your...