Sport
Declan Rice shouldn’t rush his inevitable rise
Euro 2020 gave Declan Rice the chance to prove himself at the elite level of the game. Until then, the highly-rated midfielder had been spoken about in terms of his potential, but his role in Gareth Southgate’s England team that made it all the way to the tournament’s final proved his worth beyond any doubt.
Even since then, though, Rice has taken the next step in his development. The 22-year-old is now performing at such a high level that he is now one of the very best players in the Premier League. West Ham United look to have kicked on again after finishing fifth last season and Rice has been a driving force for them.
The development of Declan Rice into an accomplished central midfielder over the last few years has been remarkable. Previously, he was criticised for his inability to read a match, but the England international is now one of the best at anticipating opposition play. This is reflected in his average of two interceptions per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, the highest average of any West Ham player.
Then Rice was targeted for a lack of creativity and goal threat. Now, though, the 22-year-old has five goals for club and country this season and is averaging 1.2 key passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He might not be on Kevin de Bruyne’s level as a deep-lying playmaker, but Rice has added dimensions to his game.
It’s therefore unsurprising that Declan Rice has been strongly linked with a move away from the London Stadium. Manchester United’s interest is believed to be particularly strong with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly viewing the England international as the one-man solution to their problems in the centre of the pitch. Chelsea have also been linked in the past.
Past reports put West Ham’s asking price at £100m, but Rice is playing at such a high level it’s no longer guaranteed this would be enough to sign a player who is getting better with almost every match he plays. The Hammers have a genuine chance of qualifying for the Champions League this season, but only if Rice stays.
“I don’t agree with the owners that Declan Rice is a £100m footballer – far, far more than £100m,” David Moyes explained recently when asked about Rice’s future and what West Ham would demand for him. “Far, far more. I look at the players who have joined some clubs from overseas and come in and nowhere near had the impact Declan Rice would have. I certainly wouldn’t put a price on it. You can decide which figure you want to put on it but I wouldn’t be sanctioning anything like that, that’s for sure.”
In his current form, Rice would improve pretty much every team in Europe. He can control matches through his use of the ball, but is also capable of providing a protective barrier in front of the back four. And now with more confidence in his attacking instincts, Rice can also influence games in the final third. The way he strides forward with the ball is Paul Pogba-esque.
With West Ham on the rise, there should be no rush for Declan Rice to make the next step in his career, but on his current trajectory he will surely outgrow his current surroundings at some point in the future. Rice has had his doubters over the early stage of his career, but at 22 he is already one of the best in the Premier League and his capacity for learning means he is likely to get even better.
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