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Ever since Declan Rice’s breakthrough in West Ham’s ranks, Chelsea wants their youth academy man back. Manchester United have also joined the fray in their rebuild to challenge for the Premier League title.
A protracted move away from the London Stadium has been stopped by the Hammers’ rise to prominence. Under David Moyes, West Ham are threatening to challenge the established top six.
It was earlier suggested that David Sullivan and David Gold will sanction a £100 million sale. Moyes will not allow that and it has been suggested that a minimum bid of £150 million will bring them to the negotiating table.
Jamie Carragher believes Rice will have to leave East London, sooner rather than later. However, the touted transfer sums remain a stumbling block. He does not fit the required mould of modern managers, and his lack of goals and assists will stop board members from sanctioning it.
“…Rice has been priced out of a move at those figures. A £100m fee will not dissuade clubs from bidding for Bellingham. Clubs are always more likely to invest such money on midfielders who regularly score goals and make assists. Bellingham is seen as a game-changer and matchwinner,” Carragher wrote in his column for the Telegraph.
Rice’s ‘problem’ in convincing a club to pay over £100m for him is that modern coaches, certainly at the elite level, want their central players in those defined roles. They are less keen on midfielders who run here, there and everywhere as they do not want to compromise the team shape. And, naturally, they will allocate most of the transfer budget to those who play higher up the pitch.”
A midfielder reimagined in Roy Keane’s likeness
England have a central midfielder that will cost over 100M. Declan along with Jude can show at @FIFAWorldCup he is worth it. He reminds me of Roy Keane.
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) November 20, 2022
For English fans, all eyes will be on Jude Bellingham’s performances from the middle of the park. They want him back in the Premier League. However, it is Declan Rice who holds the key to their success.
The 23-year-old shields their much-maligned defence. Not only does he position himself in front of the back-two or back-three, depending on Southgate’s mood, but Rice also dictates the tempo.
Carragher believes the midfield lynchpin cannot be categorized as a specialist #6 or #8 for the Three Lions as he does far too much on the pitch. He is an all-action presence that allows those around him to deliver their best.
The Liverpool great likens the Kingston upon Thames native to midfield greats, Roy Keane and Graeme Souness. The duo were the breathing hearts of Manchester United and Liverpool’s greatest sides, and Rice has all the ingredients to follow in their footsteps.
“Pigeon-holing Rice as a modern ‘No 6’ is not accurate, though. He reminds me of the marauding box-to-box midfielders of the mid-90s such as Roy Keane. Keane could do everything, a perfect combination of technique and physicality, just like Graeme Souness in the 1980s.”
“The fact he (Keane) was not a regular goal scorer from midfield – he managed 39 in 366 Premier League games for Manchester United – did not diminish his influence and importance to Sir Alex Ferguson’s greatest sides.”
Day One Dec. pic.twitter.com/9uM29J2dso
— Mason Mount (@MasonMount) November 16, 2022
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