Gary Neville has now urged Declan Rice to leave West Ham United this summer to reach a new level. But he does not believe the Arsenal target merits a transfer fee of £100-120m.
The midfielder is set to be one of the most sought-after commodities on the market at the end of the season. But Neville believes Rice is not yet in the world-class category as the 24-year-old lacks a goal threat. He is also not an absolute destroyer in the Irons’ engine room.
Rice has offered two goals and two assists over his 24 Premier League appearances so far this season. The 39-cap England anchor offered his latest strike to help toward a 4-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest last Saturday. He had not scored since October 16 before that.
Arsenal are now confident of an £80m transfer for Declan Rice this summer
Nor has Rice laid on an assist since September 3 after the West Ham captain created a goal on August 28. Yet this season is already his joint-best top-flight campaign for goals. Only in the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons has he also registered more assists with three and four.
Nonetheless, Graeme Bailey notes that West Ham will want at least £100m should Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City or Manchester United pursue the transfer of Rice. But Casemiro’s move to Old Trafford has lessened the Red Devils’ interest in his signature now.
Reports by The Times also add that Arsenal are interested in a transfer from West Ham for Rice. Mikel Arteta is targeting the Hammers captain as a direct replacement in his team for Granit Xhaka. It also notes that the Gunners are now confident of an £80m swoop for Rice.
Gary Neville questions the fee West Ham would demand to sell their captain
But while Neville admires Rice, he questions the transfer fee West Ham would demand for the Arsenal target. He feels the midfielder would only merit a price tag of around half what the Irons will seek. The Manchester United icon also says it is time for the midfielder to go.
“I love Declan Rice,” Neville told Sky Sports News (2/3, 16:10). “But I’ve said this for a long time about Declan Rice and I still feel like Declan, obviously, he knows the position.
“But when I look at the world-class holding midfield players and the players of that type, Declan Rice doesn’t score or assist enough goals.
“So, you put him into that category of more of a destroyer. You’ve then got to be someone I think is highly competent on the ball in linking play and that knowledge of the subtleties of getting on the ball from the back four.
“I personally feel, at this moment in time, that Declan does need to go work under a different set-up. He needs to sort of drive forward in his career, he needs to go 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. Declan Rice has had a great few years.
“But, for me, I wouldn’t be spending £100-120m on Declan Rice if I was Manchester United this summer. I would spend £50-60m on Declan Rice.”
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