Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has revealed that he wanted to sign midfielder Declan Rice, believing he could have been the long-term captain for the club.

Rice, who started his career in Chelsea's academy, went on to establish himself as a key player for West Ham and the England national team. He recently captained West Ham to Europa Conference League success and is expected to join Arsenal.

Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Lampard expressed his admiration for Rice and his desire to bring him to Chelsea. He said, "I was like, 'this kid is going to be the captain of Chelsea for the next 10 years'. It didn't happen, anyway, it is hard to dissect people's work."

Lampard also discussed the challenges he faced during his managerial tenure at Chelsea, particularly with the large squad he inherited after significant investment. He mentioned the difficulties of motivating players outside the Champions League squad and the need to address the squad size for improved performance.

Chelsea has since appointed Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager and has streamlined their squad by selling several first-team players. Lampard praised the signing of Mason Mount by Manchester United, stating that Mount will bring talent and raise the levels at his new club.

While Lampard's pursuit of Rice didn't come to fruition during his time at Chelsea, he still acknowledges the midfielder's potential and believes he could have made a significant impact as the club's captain.