In a recent report, The Guardian stated that Manchester City are among several clubs monitoring West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice. It is understood that Man City could face competition from Chelsea and Manchester United in the race to recruit the English midfield ace.
Rice’s Growing Influence At The English Capital
Rice had another solid season with the Hammers last season when he continued to perform at the top of his game. The London-born midfield ace was involved in 35 matches for the East London giants in the previous campaign, scoring two goals and providing one assist across multiple competitions.
The 22-year-old proved his value as a useful presence at the heart of West Ham’s midfield after he averaged 1.8 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, 1.1 clearances, 0.8 shots, 0.7 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He was even accurate when spreading the ball from midfield as he completed 88% of his attempted passes in the English top tier (stats via whoscored).
Rice is under contract at the London Stadium until the summer of 2024, so Man City would have to make a big-money offer to stand a chance of securing his services in January or at the end of this campaign.
What Will Rice Add To Pep Guardiola’s Team?
Rice can get stuck in with some strong challenges to win the ball back for the Hammers. He is a decent passer and can create a few inviting chances for his teammates to find the back of the net. The England international can even make some hard-working runs with the ball from midfield.
An all-around central midfielder of Rice’s quality will be an excellent signing for Man City in the future. He will undeniably add a lot of bite and steel to Pep Guardiola’s first team and increase competition for places within the Spaniard’s squad.
At 22, Rice has the potential to become one of the best players of his generation, so he could be tempted with a chance to make a big move to a top club like Man City next summer in search of some silverware. Hence, Guardiola should consider orchestrating a move to bring him to the Etihad Stadium as the Three Lions star could help Man City maintain their dominance in domestic football and also challenge for the UEFA Champions League trophy over the next decade.
