Graeme Souness praised Declan Rice’s defensive abilities but doesn’t believe that the English man has the overall qualities of a top midfielder.
Rice is currently one of the most sought-after midfielders in the world, not just in the Premier League. He has shown time and time again, for both England and West Ham, that he is good enough to play in an elite side.
The Hammers clearly know his value, with David Moyes stating on several occasions that it would take over £100 million to acquire his signature.
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Although Souness credits his incredible defensive capabilities, he believes that he has only one of the three attributes of a top midfielder.
“This role is a vital part of any team because in an ideal world, it’s multi-dimensional. You are creative, you chip in with goals and you’ve got a defensive head at all times.” he wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“Even when you’re on the front foot, you are thinking: ‘We are vulnerable if we lose possession.’ If you’ve got all three of those attributes, you’re worth your weight in gold. For me, Rice has just one of them.
“Judge him on the defensive aspect alone and you would have to say he’s the best in the country in that position. He’s mobile and athletic. He covers the ground very easily and snuffs out a lot of the danger before it becomes a big problem for West Ham.”
The English man will more then likely leave West Ham in the summer but may remain in London, with both Chelsea and Arsenal fighting it out for his signature.