Ajax striker Sebastien Haller believes former West Ham United teammate Declan Rice has all the potential to become a “world-class footballer”, speaking to talkSPORT (2 March, 11.30am).
Is there anything Rice can’t do?
A supremely talented passer of the ball blessed with boundless energy reserves, West Ham’s England international is one part playmaker, one part destroyer.
Rice is also a natural-born leader with intelligence, composure and a maturity that belies his age.
So it’s no wonder West Ham are demanding a minimum of £80 million as some of the Premier League’s big hitters swoon over the England international (Daily Star).
And while Haller may not look back on his time in claret and blue with too much fondness, it’s clear to see Rice made quite an impression on the club’s £45 million record signing.
“(Rice) can (become world class), I’m sure. Definitely. He has everything and he’s still really young,” says Haller, who was sold to Ajax for the cut-price fee of £20 million in January.
“Everyone knows he’s a good captain. He’s technically good, strong. I can easily say he is one of the top two players most important to the team.
“The only thing I can wish him is to become a world-class player because he has the potential.”
With just 12 games to go in the season, it’s time we got serious about the prospect of West Ham welcoming Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Juventus to the London Stadium next term.
David Moyes’ surprise packages still sit pretty in the top four and, with Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal seemingly incapable of putting together a sustained run of results, we could be hearing the iconic Champions League anthem followed by a chorus of Forever Blowing Bubbles soon enough.
And while Rice continues to be linked with a move to former club Chelsea, Champions League football may be enough to keep the club’s star man for at least another year.
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