Michail Antonio has hailed his West Ham United teammate Declan Rice as the best in the world in his position amid interest from Newcastle United.
England midfielder Declan Rice is set to leave West Ham this summer with Bayern Munich current favourites to land the 24-year-old, however recent reports suggest that deal may be on shaky ground.
Newcastle are one of many clubs interested in Rice who has been told he can leave the Hammers for a Champions League side.
Antonio says Declan Rice is better than Man City’s Rodri
Speaking on the Filthy Fellas Podcast, West Ham forward Michail Antonio has said that Rice is the best defensive midfielder in the world arguing he is better than Manchester City‘s Rodri, saying: “Think of it. What has Rodri got that Declan hasn’t? I can tell you one thing Declan has than Rodri doesn’t. Declan is fourth in the Premier League at dribbling.
“He can do everything Rodri can do, plus one. What you’re seeing is Rodri at Man City, Declan is at West Ham. Rice – you see him at a better club then you’ll see the difference.
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“He has the most interceptions in the Premier League, that’s a DM’s job. He has the most drives, so he is not just cutting the ball up he’s bring the ball up the pitch.”
Antonio is just one of many voices who hail Rice as the best in the world and the England man should now get the chance to prove it when he moves to a Champions League level club. The Hammers star still has the opportunity to end his West Ham career on a high by helping them lift the Europa Conference League trophy.
Too early for Newcastle to make a signing like Declan Rice
Rice has been at West Ham almost his entire career coming up through the academy after moving from Chelsea‘s academy. He signed his first professional contract at the Hammers in 2015 and has remained there ever since, but the time has come for him to move on.
It would be a tricky deal for Newcastle to do given the numbers involved. It’s likely going to cost anywhere between £80million and £120million depending which way the wind is blowing, and his wage demands will likely be in a similar league. So whether Newcastle will feel the time is right to make such a huge signing remains to be seen, but it’s believed Newcastle will spend big on several players rather than going big on a superstar.
The sensible theory is that it’s too early in the Newcastle project for such a signing, however you just never know with the PIF.