Chelsea’s interest in West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice will noy be affected by the departure of former manager Thomas Tuchel, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a move across London for some time now and it appears as though he is still firmly on their radar despite the change in the Stamford Bridge dugout.

What is the latest news involving Rice?

Back in May, Sky Sports revealed that Rice had rejected an eight-year contract offer from West Ham worth £200,000-per-week, which would have made him the highest-paid player in the club's history.

It was stated that both Chelsea and Manchester United were interested in prising Rice away from the London Stadium over the summer, but a formal offer failed to materialise.

The England international still has two years remaining on his existing deal, and West Ham have the option to extend it by a further 12 months until 2025, leaving them in a strong position around the negotiating table.

Hammers boss David Moyes has previously slapped £100 million and £150m price tags on Rice, who has openly expressed his desire to compete for silverware and play in the Champions League.

And there could be a fiercely contested scramble to secure his signature next summer as West Ham look to cash-in on their prized asset while they can still secure a significant fee for him.

What has Jones said about Rice?

Tuchel was surprisingly sacked just seven games into the season before being replaced by Graham Potter, but Jones doesn’t believe the switch in personnel will affect Chelsea’s stance over Rice.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, he said: “Thomas Tuchel’s departure won't really affect Chelsea's vision of signing Declan Rice.

“There are still people that remain within the club that are set on going for Declan Rice when the time arrives.”

Do Chelsea need Rice?

Potter has a plethora of midfield options at his disposal in west London, with the likes of N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all competing for a starting berth.

However, both Kante and Jorginho are the wrong side of 30 and have entered the final year of their contracts with Chelsea.

A changing of the guard in the middle of the park could be in the offing during Potter’s first summer transfer window at the helm, therefore, and Rice may be the player being targeted to replace the experienced duo.