The former Manchester City striker has been impressed with Rice since his West Ham United breakthrough.
Niall Quinn does not believe there is much between West Ham United defender Declan Rice and Manchester City counterpart John Stones.
Rice won his first international cap last week, as the Republic of Ireland suffered a 1-0 defeat against Turkey in Antalya.
It followed an impressive breakthrough campaign for the London-born 19-year-old, who has made 18 Premier League appearances in various positions for West Ham.
And Quinn – who played for Ireland and Manchester City – told the Irish Sun he can see a lot of Stones’ characteristics in Rice.
“It is very hard to say now but the way the game has gone, it is a real gift to have a player who can defend and play football,” said the 51-year-old. “How far is he away from John Stones, for instance, who was transferred for £50 million?
“For me, he can already do a lot of what John Stones can do. Where in an Irish jersey does that put him?
“I think there is a flexibility there that we have not had since Paul McGrath was around.
“Rice looks the part, he moves well, his feet are good, his positioning is very good off the ball. And he is not afraid to get stuck in.”
Rice moved to West Ham from Chelsea’s academy four years ago and made his first team debut against Burnley on the final day of last season.
It’s plausible the emergence of the former Republic of Ireland youth international convinced the Hammers to part with veteran defender Jose Fonte in February, after young pair Reece Oxford and Reece Burke were loaned out again the previous month.
Can Rice reach the heights of Manchester City’s Stones?
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