Roy Keane has slated Arsenal and Liverpool summer transfer target Declan Rice and how he ‘needs to do more’ to impress him and take that next step in his career, as he told ITV Sport (01/03/23 at 7:20 pm).
The outspoken TV pundit added that he doesn’t think Rice standouts out in a ‘bad team’ in West Ham United, who are seemingly open to selling the Arsenal and Liverpool target this summer.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool need midfield players more than anyone next season, after a campaign of real struggle, especially in the middle of the park.
For Arsenal, they are sitting at the top of the Premier League table and Mikel Arteta is looking for someone to come in and cover Thomas Partey, or even challenge the Ghana star.
After signing Jorginho for little money in January, would those at the Emirates Stadium be willing to put down the £100+ million that’s been spoken about for Rice?
Well, Roy Keane couldn’t help but dig at the ‘PR’ going on from West Ham regarding Rice’s transfer fee and why he isn’t impressed with the 24-year-old of late.
“He has to focus on doing well for West Ham until the rest of the season,” said Keane. “I don’t think he’s been great this season. I really don’t. I don’t think he’s kicked on.
“For all the talk about him. A lot of good PR coming out from West Ham and how much he is worth. I think he needs to do a lot more. He doesn’t score enough goals and he doesn’t get enough assists.
“You disagree with me?!” Keane looked over to Wright after he said ‘wow’. “I hope you disagree with me. I know what I am talking about I played it in midfield – I have been a fan of his. He turns up every week. He is fit. But I just want more from him.
“There is talk he’s going to leave for big money and go to one of the bigger clubs that would be competing for trophies and playing in the Champions League. He needs to do a lot more, as simple as that.
“Sometimes I see games at West Ham. He is just going through the motions. Sideways and backwards. Picking the easy option. It’s easier to play well in a bad team. For me, he doesn’t stand out in a bad team, which is a worry.”
IS RICE GOOD ENOUGH TO STEP UP?
The issue for the England international is that he’s going to be compared with the likes of Casemiro, Rodri, Thomas Partey and N’Golo Kante.
As of this moment, he just isn’t on their level, but he will argue, once he makes the step up, then so will his performance.
For West Ham, understandably, they will want as much as they can get, beyond £100 million has been mentioned by David Moyes.
But would the elite clubs be willing to put that sort of money on the table for a player that hasn’t even played in the Champions League yet?
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