Pundit moots Declan Rice captaincy role at Arsenal amid West Ham United ‘blame’ verdict
Declan Rice would more than likely become Arsenal captain one day if he was to join the Gunners from West Ham, according to pundit Adrian Clarke.
Clarke added that the Hammers cannot be blamed for drawing out the transfer saga involving their talented midfielder.
The East London club are pushing Arsenal to bring an end to the transfer saga involving Rice [talkSPORT, 24 June], but Manchester City are closing in on his signature [Gianluca Di Marzio, 22 June].
“You can’t blame West Ham for trying to drum up interest, and you couldn’t blame Manchester City for being interested,” Clarke said live on talkSPORT. “He’s definitely good enough for them, I rate him so highly.
“I think, in his position, there’s only one player in the Premier League that I’d put above Rice and that’s Rodri. And it’s a close call.
“I don’t want to strip Martin Odegaard of the captaincy because he’s been absolutely superb in that role, he’s a natural captain. But if Rice were to join Arsenal, it’s hard not to see him eventually taking the armband as well at the Emirates.”
Captain material
Rice has proven time and again that he was the right man to lead West Ham in recent years, with the midfielder taking the armband over effortlessly from club legend Mark Noble.
The England international could well go on to captain his country one day too, but the Arsenal captaincy will be the last thing on his mind right now.
Rice will be trying to stay grounded amid all the talk surrounding his club future, and of course the huge sums of money that are being discussed.
All that matters now though is leaving the London Stadium the best way possible, with that process seemingly already well underway.
His final destination, however, remains unknown, with Arsenal and Manchester City looking like battling it out all the way for his signature, just like they did for the recent Premier League title.
Whoever comes out on top is getting one of the top midfielders in world football without doubt.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have made an approach to sign a new striker whose 16-goal loan has just come to an end.