Rio Ferdinand Names Premier League Star The 'Best Midfielder In The Country,' Says He Dominates Games

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has claimed that West Ham star Declan Rice is “arguably” the best midfielder in the country right now.

Rice, 22, has been a central part of David Moyes’ plans at West Ham, with the Hammers off to a flying start in the current Premier League campaign.

The West Ham midfielder, who is under contract until 2024, has started and played every minute of the Hammers’ 11 Premier League matches this season.

Rice also impressed in the summer during England’s run to the Euro 2020 final after forging a superb midfield partnership with Leeds star Kalvin Phillips.

The England international has been subject to intense speculation linking him with Chelsea and United, despite West Ham fending off interest from rival Premier League clubs.

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Ferdinand has now praised Rice for his “maturity” and how he has “dominated” matches with his performances from midfield.

PA

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, the BT Sport pundit said: “He has arguably been the best midfielder in the country.

“He has dominated games, he has played with maturity. The Euros, something's clicked in him different.

“His game management, the way he can change the pace of a game at times, we saw that at Newcastle earlier in the season.

“He's added goals now. There's a maturity in his game for one so young that he's got levels still to go.”

Rice has turned down two contract extensions from West Ham, despite claiming that he is “happy” at the London club.

PA

The Hammers previously slapped a £100m price tag on the England star, but Moyes has claimed that “bargain” price is no longer on the table.

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“There was a bargain to be got with Declan at £100million. That bargain has now gone,” he told Sky Sports.

“We have a lot of really good players at this football club and I think while you're building and developing I think people might always come and look at your players.

“But it is good that they are because that is telling us that they're doing well.”

West Ham have won seven of their 11 Premier League matches and sit third in the table -- level on points with Manchester City -- before the start of the international break.

Topics: Rio Ferdinand, Declan Rice, West Ham United, Premier League, England, Football

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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