Declan Rice’s impressive displays have caught the eye of the Premier League leaders but Arsenal’s own Thomas Partey remains ‘head and shoulders above’ the West Ham United captain, former England international Darren Bent tells talkSPORT (8 February, 5pm).
In the aftermath of Saturday’s 1-1 draw between Newcastle and the Hammers at St James’ Park, there was one name on the lips of both Eddie Howe and David Moyes.
The Newcastle boss paid tribute to an outstanding midfield performance from that claret-and-blue colossus; Rice succeeding where so many have failed this season, and matching the intensity and aggression on show in black-and-white.
Moyes, meanwhile, was insistent in his belief that Rice will soon become the most expensive English footballer of all time (Daily Mail); his price-tag exceeding the £100 million Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish.
But it’s testament to the supreme form of those already at Mikel Arteta’s disposal that even a player of Rice’s quality would not be guaranteed a place in Arsenal’s starting XI these days. The West Ham skipper, Bent says, is yet the match the sky-high standards set by the Gunners’ ever-improving ‘number five’.
West Ham captain Declan Rice is a summer target for Arsenal
“This season, Thomas Partey and Casemiro have been above everyone,” says the former Tottenham striker; refuting Kieran Trippier’s claims that Rice is currently the Premier League’s best deep-lying midfielder.
“If you look at this season alone, Casemiro and Thomas Partey have been head and shoulders above everyone.”
With his contract expiring in 2024, there is a nagging fear among West Ham supporters that this could be Rice’s final few months at the London Stadium. Rice, The Guardian say, is Arsenal’s leading summer target. The one-time Chelsea youngster is also ‘open’ to the idea of joining a team chockful of talented young Englishmen.
“Declan’s unbelievable,” fellow Three Lions star Trippier tells Rio Ferdinand during his Vibe with Five podcast.
“Just his intelligence, the way he breaks up play, how he travels with the ball, and how powerful (he is). Probably one of the best in the world at what he does.
“As defenders, (a player like Rice) makes your job easier when they’re just mopping everything up. Don’t get me wrong, Casemiro, the trophies he’s won, the Champions League’s, of course, he’s a world-class player.
“But if you’re talking right now, honestly, (Rice) is incredible.”
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