Manchester United hero Dwight Yorke has claimed that Declan Rice receives more praise because he is an “English product” after he changed his international allegiance.
West Ham are fearful of the highly sought-after Rice leaving the London Stadium in the summer, with the Hammers star’s contract to expire in 2024.
Rice has been an integral figure under West Ham boss David Moyes, but the England midfielder has previously expressed his desire to play in the Champions League.
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The 24-year-old West Ham star has attracted intense transfer interest from the Premier League’s elite clubs, including the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and United.
Rice previously represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level and received his senior international appearance under then-manager Martin O’Neill.
The Hammers midfielder, who was capped three times for the Republic of Ireland, changed his national allegiance to England under current manager Gareth Southgate.
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And Rice has been a central figure for Southgate in the England midfield, with the former Republic of Ireland international playing at both Euro 2020 and the World Cup.
Speaking to OLBG, Yorke has claimed that Rice would command a “similar fee” to British-record signing Enzo Fernandez in today’s transfer market.
“David Moyes has said Declan Rice would break the transfer record because he’s seen how much Chelsea have signed Enzo Fernandez for,” he said.
“Rice is an English product so Moyes has to big him up, you can’t let all the foreigners come and take the limelight!
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“Rice is a good player but he does not influence the game enough at a top level for me, I would not say he is as tremendous as everyone makes him out to be.
“With the market we’re in, Rice will have a similar fee to Fernandez, we’ve seen prices like that on English players like Jack Grealish.”
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Topics: Declan Rice, Premier League, England, Football, West Ham United
Adnan Riaz