Trevor Sinclair: Rice and Soucek would walk into Manchester United XI
West Ham host Manchester United on Sunday, and they will be facing their toughest test so far this season in what promises to be a fierce clash.
While they will be without the suspended Michail Antonio, David Moyes will find a way to tweak his attack in order to cope without the Jamaican international striker.
The game is most likely to be won in midfield, and Trevor Sinclair claims while Hammers duo Tomas Soucek, 26, and Declan Rice, 22, would walk into the Red Devils starting XI, he does not see Fred, Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay doing the same at the London Stadium side.
The West Ham legend said on talkSPORT (as shared on their official Twitter account on Friday morning): “I’ve said it last season, we were talking about this exact fixture, and I said Declan Rice and Soucek would walk into the Manchester United team.
“I don’t think their two or three holding midfielders would walk into the West Ham’s team.
“I think they are probably as good as you’re going to get in the Premier League at the moment.
“Soucek brings his unique running power, he’s a real boss in both boxes, and Rice with his composure and ability to run the game at the back is absolutely brilliant. The shape and the chemistry all over the pitch, everyone looks like they are enjoying playing for Moyes.”
Bold claim
Sinclair has made a huge claim, but not many would argue with him having seen the impact the Irons duo has made together over the last 18 months.
Soucek has been an inspired addition since joining the Hammers from Slavia Prague in January 2020, with 14 Premier League goals to his name.
It is a huge return for someone who plays in his position, and those box-to-box qualities are surely catching the eyes of some suitors.
Man Utd have been linked with Rice, with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea also known to be keeping tabs on him.
The trio could be coming after his signature next summer, and the Red Devils will definitely be scouting him again on Sunday.
Matic, Fred and McTominay are not the worst options to have, but the West Ham ace is without a doubt an upgrade on them.
Moyes cannot afford to lose Rice or Soucek anytime soon, and qualifying for next season’s Champions League would be crucial to his side’s chances of retaining the services of the former.
In other West Ham news, Solskjaer has shared a Jesse Lingard update ahead of weekend’s Hammers reunion.
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