Chelsea are prepared to release Fikayo Tomori on-loan next season.

Tomori could be allowed to leave Chelsea on loan in order for the club to secure the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham, reports the Athletic.

Having already snapped up Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech to bolster his attack next season, boss Frank Lampard has now turned his attention to improving the defence with Rice, 21, his favoured target.

With West Ham asking for upwards of £70million for Rice, Tomori may even be sent to the London Stadium temporarily as a makeweight in any deal for the Blues' former youth team player, who was released at 14 before joining the Hammers.

While the majority of his 105 Hammers games have come in midfield - along with seven senior England caps - Rice would likely be moved to centre-back under Lampard.