Glenn Hoddle predicts when Declan Rice will leave West Ham for ‘top club’
Glenn Hoddle has predicted that West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice will move to a “top club” in two or three years time.
The Irons skipper has been linked with a move to his former club Chelsea for quite some time now and continues to impress in the Premier League.
Hoddle admitted he is a big fan of Rice and believes his improvement on the ball is making him an even better player under David Moyes.
Hoddle claimed that West Ham fans won’t want to hear his prediction, with Rice set to become even better as each year passes.
“They are having a great season and he is having a great season himself,” he said in his Evening Standard column.
“We know he has defensive abilities, we know can slip into defence if needed, so he smells danger quite well. He keeps the ball and I think he is just now adding a little bit more to his passing.
“He is a good player now but in two or three years’ time, and West Ham fans will not want to hear me say this, I think he could move to a top club.”
Rice was phenomenal in the latest win against Leeds on Friday.
The 21-year-old is mature beyond his years, and is turning into one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League.
The Irons skipper won 100 of his offensive and aerial duels at Elland Road, as well as making five interceptions and 11 recoveries according to WyScout.
Rice covered nearly every blade of grass in that win, and Hoddle is right to praise his passing – with his ball through to Pablo Fornals superb.
The Sun reported that the Hammers were demanding £80million for Rice over the summer, as Chelsea continue to sniff around.
With Rice’s superb start to the season, and Hoddles “two-to-three-year” prediction, he could be worth well over £100million should this level of performance continue.
In other West Ham United news, Frank McAvennie fed up with transfer policy of the Irons and senior players