Declan Rice is ‘the best in his position in the world’

Having been at West Ham since 2014, Aaron Cresswell has seen many players come and go at the London club. One of the current talents he works with every day is Declan Rice and the left-back was full of praise for the England international in a recent interview.

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Speaking to The Times about Rice, Cresswell stated: “In the past, I said Dimitri Payet is the best I’ve ever played with but given his progression it’s probably Dec now. I’m not saying it because he’s at West Ham: I believe he’s the best in his position in the world. Some might disagree, but from what I see, day to day and in games, over the last two years he’s kicked on another level. You look at the way he is for England, he’s so athletic, he’s got absolutely everything to be world class – and I believe he already is.”

To say Rice has overtaken Payet in terms of talent is quite a statement and underscores just how highly thought of the midfielder is at the club. They’ve love to keep him, even though there is a sense that the time has come for Rice to move on, and Cresswell believes winning the Europa League could be the necessary step to advance as a club and to retain talents like Rice.

On the Hammers’ Europa League run, he said: “I’ve won absolutely zero. So I’d love a trophy. And I think to go to that next level as a club we need to win something, or really compete to. I think of Nobes — to win a European trophy in his final year, or do something great in the competition, would be really special.”

The candidates to sign Declan Rice

David Moyes has claimed that Rice shouldn’t be sold for less than £150m, but he probably will go for under that. Still, West Ham will make a pretty penny, especially since there is fierce competition that could drive the price up.

Manchester United have long been considered the favourites in the race to sign Rice, but Chelsea would be in the mix too if they are permitted to sign this summer.