Chelsea are unlikely to sign both Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice next summer, due to the finances required to strengthen other areas of the pitch for Graham Potter’s squad at Stamford Bridge, CBS journalist Ben Jacobs has told GiveMeSport.
The Blues are preparing to head into their first transfer window under the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss.
Chelsea transfer news – Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice
According to Football.London, Chelsea see Bellingham as the ideal replacement for out-of-contract N’Golo Kanté and are hoping that the midfielder’s close friendship with fellow England international Reece James could persuade him on a move to Stamford Bridge next summer.
The Athletic reported earlier this season that the Blues were joined by Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid in their interest for the Borussia Dortmund star, who is valued by the Bundesliga side at around £131m.
Meanwhile, the same publication has reported that Chelsea are leading the race to sign West Ham United and England midfielder Rice next summer, with the Irons demanding a fee of £100m to let the 23-year-old leave the London Stadium, despite only having 18 months remaining on his contract come the turn of the year.
Transfer insider Dean Jones told GiveMeSport earlier this month that the signing of the Hammers captain could be a bargain for the Blues, in comparison to the extensive fee the club would have to pay for Bellingham next summer.
And Jacobs believes that whilst the club “love” Bellingham, they are unlikely to sign both him and Rice next summer, due to the financial outlay on a potential deal for both.
What has Jacobs said about Chelsea?
Jacobs told GiveMeSport: “There’s Chelsea who love Bellingham, but I don’t think Chelsea stand a chance of getting Rice and Bellingham together. I don’t think that they will want to invest the collective finances over a summer in both of them because they’ll need to strengthen in other areas as well.
“Even if the midfield is the key priority, they will need to make defensive reinforcements, they still may need another attacker. And if they were to get Rice plus Bellingham then that, even for a big club with a big budget, is another massive outlay on two players.”
Would Bellingham be a good alternative to Rice?
If Chelsea were unable to secure the signature of Rice next summer, Bellingham would likely be a fantastic alternative to the West Ham man, though Potter’s side would have to pay an extortionate fee to get him to Stamford Bridge.
The former Birmingham City midfielder, who has been described as a “superstar” by Roy Keane, particularly impressed English viewers during his World Cup campaign with the Three Lions, having started every game in the nation’s run to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
An impressive showing on the world’s biggest stage comes off the back of an excellent start to the campaign with Dortmund, having scored nine goals and provided three assists in 22 appearances from midfield, according to Transfermarkt.
However, with any likely deal for Bellingham costing north of £100m, Chelsea will have to be prepared to part with a large proportion of next season’s transfer budget if they are to secure a stunning deal for the country’s hottest prospect.
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