In a recent report, Eurosport revealed that Manchester City are locked in a three-way battle for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice. It is believed that Man City could face competition in the form of Manchester United and Liverpool in the race to land the Hammers star next summer.
Rice’s Impressive Numbers At The English Capital
The London-born talent is currently playing some of his best football at the London Stadium and did well to give a good account of himself at the heart of David Moyes’ midfield last season. The 22-year-old was involved in 35 matches for the East London outfit in the previous campaign, netting two goals and grabbing one assist on all fronts.
Rice proved himself to be a valuable presence in West Ham’s first team 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 also took care of the ball well when interchanging possession with his teammates based on his pass completion rate of 88% in league football (stats via whoscored).
The England international’s current contract with the East London club expires in the summer of 2024, so Man City would have to make a big offer if they are serious about winning the race for his services at the end of this campaign.
Is Rice The Right Choice For Man City?
Rice works his socks off to make life difficult for the opposition at the centre of the park and can get stuck in with some solid tackles to earn the ball back for his team. He is usually quick to sense the danger and can offer decent protection for his teammates on the defensive end of the field.
The Three Lions is a tidy passer of the ball as well and can create some decent plays for others around him. However, he should think about improving his goal-tally if he intends to be a success story at a top club like Man City.
Rice will be a great signing for the Mancunian giants in the long run as he has the potential to become a world-class player in his position someday. Pep Guardiola would be the perfect man to get the best out of the English workhorse at the Etihad Stadium in the coming seasons.
Rice would also serve as an ideal long-term replacement for Fernandinho who is entering the last leg of his playing career. Therefore, the West Ham star will be an excellent choice for Man City to consider next summer.
