Rice better than Casemiro and Partey, claims England international

Suraj Radia

• 8 Feb 2023 10:08 CST
• 2 min read

Declan Rice is projected to be a man in demand this summer, with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea lining up moves that could amount to around £100 million for the West Ham captain.

Rice has established himself as standout talent in the Premier League in recent years and his England teammate Kieran Trippier believes the 24-year-old is better than fellow defensive midfielders Thomas Partey and Casemiro.

REVEALED: The asking price for Declan Rice

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five podcast, Trippier picked Rice over Partey when asked which of the two he would prefer, describing his England teammate as ‘unbelievable’ following his role in West Ham’s recent 1-1 draw with Newcastle.

Trippier said: “I don’t know if you watched the game the other day when [Newcastle] played West Ham, but just his intelligence, the way he breaks up play and how he travels with it, and how powerful he is. Unbelievable, probably one of the best in the world at what he does.

When asked whether he would also take Rice over Casemiro, Trippier admitted he still prefers the West Ham man, telling Ferdinand: “As defenders like me or yourself, you appreciate a Michael Carrick, or what Declan does.

“It makes your job easier when they’re just mopping everything up. Don’t get me wrong, Casemiro, the trophies he’s won, the Champions Leagues, he’s a world-class player, but if you’re talking right now, Decs is incredible.”

The contenders to sign Declan Rice this summer

Rice is expected to leave West Ham this summer having rejected numerous offers of a new contract, with his current deal due to expire in 2024, although there is believed to an option for the club to extend it for a further year.

The Hammers are believed to have turned down approaches from Chelsea and Manchester United last year and were holding out for a bid of around £120m but their asking price is expected to be substantially lower this summer.

Arsenal are thought to be frontrunners for Rice’s signature as they look for a long-term replacement for Partey, with the 29-year-old’s fitness and injury record a concern despite his impressive form this season.

GUNNER BOUND?: Rice sets sights on Arsenal move over Chelsea

Rice was initially a target of Chelsea’s previous regime under Thomas Tuchel and Roman Abramovich but the Blues could still move for Rice, who is a boyhood fan of the club despite being released by their academy as a teenager.

Liverpool are still prioritising Jude Bellingham this year while United may opt to pursue Frenkie de Jong once again to partner Casemiro but both teams will likely monitor the situation surrounding Rice and his impending transfer saga.