West Ham United legend Trevor Sinclair fears star midfielder Declan Rice may be poached by Chelsea after Ross Barkley's loan departure to Aston Villa.
Barkley had struggled to nail down a regular starting spot under Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge and the arrival of Kai Havertz had further limited the England midfielder's opportunities.
Having shifted the former Everton man out of the club, Lampard is looking add another body in the middle of the park.
Chelsea have been routinely linked with Rice after a series of impressive displays, with the 21-year-old catching the eye with his measured passing, non-stop running and strength in the tackle.