Pundit prefers Liverpool to sign Newcastle ace over West Ham United man Declan Rice
Declan Rice is one of the world’s best defensive midfielders, as he has proved at West Ham for years, but Dietmar Hamann is not so sure.
The former Liverpool midfielder was asked by Boyle Sports whether he thinks the Reds should be looking to sign the 23-year-old England international.
But Hamann had other ideas of who Jurgen Klopp should purchase and namechecked a surprise player currently excelling under Eddie Howe at Newcastle United.
“I think Rice is a very capable player but I think it depends on how Fabinho comes back into the season because he’s been really disappointing but he’s a really brilliant player,” Hamann said.
“I would like Liverpool to sign someone a bit more adventurous, someone like Joelinton from Newcastle who has a physical presence, can get you a goal and he has the full package.
“A player like him would suit Liverpool down to the ground. I think getting a player of his quality in January is near enough impossible and that should’ve been done in the summer.”
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David Moyes and West Ham won’t be remotely concerned if Klopp decides he wants to sign Joelinton over Rice if it means they can keep their star player for another season at least.
There will be other Premier League sides and perhaps even some from abroad who want Rice in their team but the Irons have to stand firm as much as they can.
He could bring in an eye-watering nine0figure transfer fee if sold to the right bidder but that likelihood is diminishing the closer to the end of his contract he gets.
That deal is supposed to end in the summer of 2024 which could make this January or next summer the last chances for him to be sold for huge money.
The alternative is for West Ham to make it into the Champions League but it would take a miracle for that to happen this season or perhaps even next.