West Ham United transfer news as Gary Neville slams Declan Rice price tag
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes West Ham United captain Declan Rice has “a lot to do” before warranting a £100-120m price tag this summer and being labelled a “destroyer”.
Neville confessed that he thinks Rice is a brilliant player but thinks due to his lack of goals and assists it’s hard to place such a high price on his head.
The former Manchester United defender was responding to Roy Keane’s criticism of Rice after the Hammers’ 3-1 FA Cup defeat to the Red Devils on 1 March.
“I do agree with him,” said Neville in response to Keane’s comments live on Sky Sports. (2 March)
“When I look at the World class holding midfielders that exist and the players of that type does Declan Rice score or assist enough goals to be put into that category of a destroyer?
“You’ve then got to be someone who is highly competent on the ball and at linking play and have the knowledge of those subtleties of getting on the ball from the back four, I personally feel at this moment in time Declan does need to go and work under a different setup to drive forward in his career, he needs to go and play at a different club.
“That’s nothing against West Ham or David Moyes, I think he’s done a brilliant job with Declan Rice and he’s had a fantastic few years.
“For me, I wouldn’t be spending £100-120m on Declan Rice. I would spend £50-60m on Declan Rice but I wouldn’t be spending £100-120m which is what is being reported.”
Time will tell.
Time will tell whether or not Rice leaves the London Stadium this summer but it’s hard to see West Ham United budging for anything under £100m for the maestro.
In today’s wild and crazy transfer market, it seems like a fair price to pay for a homegrown and generational talent like Rice.
West Ham United should and must try their best to get the most they can for their captain, reinventing the squad for future campaigns is at stake here.
Not to mention how much losing the influence of Rice will affect the feng shui of this current Hammers side, it’s pivotal that a suitable replacement is lined up for him.
Premier League juggernauts will be lining up for Rice’s signature this summer and creating a bidding war that surpasses £100m surely isn’t out of the question.
Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal seem to be the frontrunners right now, but Rice is anyone’s game as the Premier League enters the business end of the season.