Liverpool legend urges Reds to hijack Arsenal’s move for midfield ‘rock’

Tom Hancock

• 11 Jun 2023 20:22 BST
• 3 min read

Liverpool icon Steve Nicol would rather his old club signed Declan Rice than Brighton’s Moises Caicedo as they continue to rebuild their midfield.

Arsenal appear to be leading the race to sign Rice – while Bayern Munich have also been linked with a move for the West Ham skipper.

Hammers chairman David Sullivan confirmed after the club’s Europa Conference League triumph last week that the 24-year-old England international will, as expected, depart this summer – although it remains to be seen where he will be playing his football next season.

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Could Rice head to Anfield? His rumoured price tag of £120m could present some problems for Liverpool – who ruled themselves out of the running for Jude Bellingham on such grounds – but Nicol would love to see him in Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The former Scotland international – who won eight major trophies with the Reds in the 1980s – told ESPN: “I would like him [Rice] in my team [Liverpool]. He is one of those guys that, on the face of it, from a neutral’s point of view, he’s not fancy, he’s not exciting and he’s not a guy who I think gets the credit he deserves.

“But the ten guys standing next to him on the field, every single one of them will tell you how important he is and how good he is. I actually think he can get better. Going forward, he can score more goals.

“I think the fact that he has been at West Ham has meant that he has had to be that rock right in the middle of the park that starts things, stops things and gets the ball to the front guys. I still think there is more to his game than we have seen. He’s only 24. I want him in my team.

“If you have the money, then you sign Declan Rice. If I am picking the team tomorrow, then I am picking Declan Rice before Caicedo.”

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A Brighton reunion at Anfield?

Caicedo has also been linked with Arsenal – who failed with a bid to sign the Ecuador international in January.

Liverpool have already landed one of Brighton’s stars of 2022/23, completing a £35m deal for Alexis Mac Allister last Thursday.