£80m Chelsea target told he would become ‘automatic starter’ if he signs for Arsenal instead

Chelsea transfer target Declan Rice would become an instant starter if he instead signs for Arsenal.

That’s the verdict of pundit Danny Murphy, who has been speaking to the Daily Mail about Rice’s future.

Murphy claims that Chelsea have a ‘strong’ lure for Rice given that he supported the Blues and came through their academy ranks.

This is why Joel is The Worst

This is why Joel is The Worst

However, Murphy also thinks that Rice would be an ‘automatic starter’ if he was to join Arsenal instead.

Murphy believes Arsenal are a ‘great option’ for Rice and seemingly believes that he would walk into the Arsenal team.

Maybe with the likes of Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher in the Chelsea ranks, Rice could be at the risk of rotation.

Murphy thinks Rice is now heady to leave West Ham and needs Champions League football – something Arsenal are more likely to be offering than Chelsea.

“He’s 100 per cent ready to move to the next level and at 24 won’t want to wait any longer for Champions League football,” said Murphy. “Arsenal would be a great option and I think he’d be an automatic starter. The lure of Chelsea is also strong, having grown up supporting the club and playing in their academy,” he added.

Arsenal appear confident of Declan Rice deal

The Gunners will be incredibly appealing to any targets this summer, whether they win the Premier League title or not.

Mikel Arteta appears to be building something special at Arsenal and top targets will want to be a part of the project.

Rice may well be one of them, and The Times report that Arsenal are prioritising an £80million summer deal for the West Ham star.

Add in that reporter Simon Phillips has told Give Me Sport that Arsenal think they are ahead of Chelsea in the race for Rice and this is starting to look good for Arsenal.

You would imagine that Rice would be slotting straight into the Arsenal team – especially if they would be paying around £80million.

Whether it’s in front of the back four or as competition for Granit Xhaka, Rice should be vital if Arsenal sign him.

The idea of Rice and Bukayo Saka starring for England and Arsenal together is an exciting one, and beating Chelsea would be so, so sweet for the Gunners.