Declan Rice
Having not had the chance to put his own stamp of authority on his squad back in January, Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel will be determined to sprinkle his magic at Stamford Bridge this summer. The German, who guided his side to the UEFA Champions League title almost three weeks ago, arrived at Stamford Bridge with just under a week of the January transfer window remaining. Back in 2018 Guardiola hailed Rice’s capabilities, insisting he will become a ‘top player’.
Pep Guardiola said: “Declan Rice is an excellent young player and he will be a top English player for many years to come,” Guardiola admitted three years ago.
Although his verdict on the England international was only short, it tells you everything you need to know. As well as that, Guardiola is more than qualified enough to pick out a talented player when he sees one. As well as tipping Rice for stardom, Guardiola also hailed Haaland’s talents a few months ago ahead of City’s Champions League quarter-final showdown with Dortmund.
Pep Guardiola said: “The numbers speak for themselves. Of course he’s one of the best strikers in the world right now at his age. I’ve seen a few of his games, honestly, because I didn’t have much time. But I saw the highlights and the numbers in the Champions League and the league are impressive. I know the quality of this player and I think everyone knows. But in two weeks I could answer better, because I didn’t see much.”
Once again, Guardiola is a huge fan of a player Chelsea are interested in, providing proof that if the former Barcelona chief thinks they’re world-class talents then the Blues should go for them. Every Chelsea fan will be dreaming of both players arriving at Stamford Bridge this summer, but their combined reported valuation of £220million could be a stumbling block.
