---
title: "Chelsea Target Declan Rice Outlines Long-Term Career Goal"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2020/11/26/chelsea-target-declan-rice-ambition-win-trophies/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2020-11-26T12:30:16Z"
modified: "2020-11-26T12:30:16Z"
---

# Chelsea Target Declan Rice Outlines Long-Term Career Goal

[Chelsea](https://readchelsea.com/2020/11/26/callum-hudson-odoi-vows-to-seize-chelsea-opportunities/) brought in a [wealth of summer signings](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-chelsea/transfers/verein/631) but were left wanting in their [pursuit](https://talksport.com/football/752441/chelsea-west-ham-declan-rice-transfer/) of West Ham midfielder [Declan Rice](https://readchelsea.com/2020/11/19/chelsea-fans-plead-for-rice-signing-mason-mount-comments/).

Reported as a target by multiple sources, Rice was formerly part of the academy setup with the Blues and Frank Lampard is [widely expected to go back in](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chelsea-declan-rice-transfer-bid-22943396) for the youngster in January.

A [close friend](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/nov/29/mason-mount-declan-rice-chelsea-west-ham-england-childhood-friends) of current Chelsea midfielder and fellow 21-year-old Mason Mount, Rice has told [Sky Sports](https://www.youtube.com/embed/m9r6qvasizs) he wants to win trophies during his career, saying: “As a footballer, you only get one career and it goes by very quick. You want to be successful for club and country. I think it’s an important thing to win trophies.”

The 11-cap England international compared his situation to that of Harry Kane, a player who has [succeeded on an individual level](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/fifa-world-cup/story/3566761/luka-modric-wins-world-cup-golden-ball-as-mbappe-and-courtois-also-honoured) without winning any [team silverware](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/harry-kane/erfolge/spieler/132098).

Rice believes his unglamorous role doesn’t lend itself to major interest but outlined his desire to improve, saying: “I’ve played midfield now for the last three seasons. I think people get carried away with kind of what they want me to do. My role is holding midfielder.”

He added: ”There isn’t really any flair in that. I can slot in at centre-half but I think I’ve got much more to give and I think my confidence is growing in midfield. I think the more I start to drive forward with the ball like I’ve been doing in recent games. If I can keep adding that into my game I can keep catching the eye.”

### READ CHELSEA VERDICT

With N’Golo Kante [back firing on all cylinders](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ngolo-kante/leistungsdaten/spieler/225083), Jorginho [in and out of the side](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jorginho/leistungsdaten/spieler/102017), and Mateo Kovacic back to full fitness, the immediate need for Rice isn’t an obvious one.

However, with the ambition outlined by the youngster and with [Lampard’s obvious fondness](https://talksport.com/football/765108/declan-rice-frank-lampard-chelsea-signings/) of the West Ham midfielder, it would be surprising if there wasn’t another concerted effort to bring Rice to Stamford Bridge.

The 21-year-old is undoubtedly talented and has quickly become an [established presence for both club and country](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/november/19-november/declan-rice-scoring-england-indescribable-feeling), so in the long term, the Chelsea midfield would be well patrolled having Rice and Mount reuniting.

Signing a player who is of such importance to a Premier League rival in January has [never been an easy feat](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/9380389.stm#:~:text=Chelsea%20move%20a%20step%20forward,year%20contract%20with%20the%20Blues.)and it is likely any deal would come at even more of a premium rate, so the Blues may hold out until the summer and see how the land lies.

West Ham may need to [secure European football](https://www.premierleague.com/tables), or win a trophy, in order to satisfy Rice’s ambition.