Liverpool told Chelsea target Declan Rice ‘fits the mould’ at Anfield

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been urged to beat Chelsea to the signing of West Ham United ace Declan Rice in order to strengthen his midfield ranks in advance of next season. The Reds are widely expected to pursue at least one new addition in January or at the end of the current campaign after struggling with a number of injuries in the middle of the park over the last few months.Rice is thought to be a long-term target for Chelsea, the club he once played for as an academy prospect, with the Blues also seeking reinforcements in midfield amid doubts over the long-term futures of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho. However, ex-Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler believes that the Reds would be missing a trick by allowing Rice to join Chelsea when the bidding opens next summer.”The [Jude] Bellingham link is brilliant because he’s a very good player, another player who I really like is Declan Rice,” Fowler told FairBettingSites when quizzed on Liverpool’s options in the transfer market. “He fits into a Liverpool mould. Whether Liverpool are looking at players to come in, they have to have a certain amount of pedigree, those players need to have lots of energy.”I do think Rice fits that bill, he’s a player who sits in the middle of the park but he can get around the pitch with his endeavour as well. Rice is a player I’d like Liverpool to sign. Not to be disrespectful to West Ham, but Rice will be a name on the top of many top teams’ lists whether that’s in the summer or January.JUST IN: Tottenham receive contract message from Harry Kane as Bayern circle Jurgen Klopp has been urged to pursue a sensational move for Declan Rice next summer (Image: GETTY)”Rice has been class for a few years now and you can see why clubs want him, but for me, he fits the mould of a Liverpool player.”It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will target a move for Rice, who is only tied down at West Ham until the summer of 2024, when the season draws to a close next year. It seems almost impossible that the Hammers would allow a deal to be struck in January, although they could be under pressure to sell up if Rice enters the final year of his current deal without signing a new one.DON’T MISSBarcelona may spark Man Utd and Chelsea scrap as two ‘up for sale’Arsenal face huge Mudryk transfer fee because of Man Utd star AntonyLeeds board’s latest Jesse Marsch sack view as replacements mentioned Rice is only under contract at West Ham until the summer of 2024 as things stand (Image: EXPRESS)Liverpool would also be forced to contend with the financial might of Chelsea in the battle to land Rice, with the Blues having spent in excess of £270million on new players during the recent summer transfer window. Their transfer strategy of throwing cash at big-name players is at odds with Liverpool’s relatively cautious approach to the market but could be the best way to go if Rice demands a mega-money contract in order to leave West Ham next year.Rice has played every minute for West Ham in the Premier League so far this season and has also been tipped to feature in a starring role for England at this year’s World Cup in Qatar. The 23-year-old will be expected to keep delivering the goods for club and country in spite of the uncertainty surrounding his future until the end of the season, at which point things could begin to speed up in terms of deciding his next career move.WIN A FREE ENGLAND SHIRT FOR THE WORLD CUP!