West Ham United lost against Southampton in the Premier League at the weekend.
Redknapp was impressed with the performance of Rice for West Ham against Southampton away from home at St. Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League at the weekend.
The 18-year-old, who can operate as a midfielder or as a central defender, started the match and played for 76 minutes, as the Hammers lost 3-2.
Former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder Redknapp has praised Rice for his performance against the Saints at St. Mary’s Stadium.
“West Ham have not had the ideal start but there were two big positives for Slaven Bilic in defeat at Southampton,” Redknapp wrote in The Daily Mail.
“First, Declan Rice impressed in midfield. He can play there and at centre back and is a good communicator.
“I’m sure Bilic sees a bit of himself in the 18-year-old. Javier Hernandez was another big plus, with two trademark poacher’s goals.”
The loss to Southampton at the weekend was West Ham’s second successive defeat in the Premier League this season.
Slaven Bilic’s side kicked off their 2017-18 league campaign with a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United away from home at Old Trafford.
Former Tottenham and West Bromwich Albion forward Garth Crooks has suggested that he is unsure about the future of manager Bilic at the London Stadium.
“I have no doubt the Hammers are going to be all right this season, but I’m less sure about Bilic’s future after their mauling at Old Trafford last week and now this spirited defeat with 10 men at St Mary’s,” Crooks wrote on BBC Sport.
“However, if Bilic can hold on until striker Andy Carroll is fit, he could have a really exciting forward line, with the Englishman, Hernandez and a slightly reformed Arnautovic as a front three.”
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