Gary Neville tells Man Utd target Declan Rice to QUIT West Ham… but says he’s worth NOWHERE near £100m transfer demands
GARY NEVILLE believes Declan Rice needs to move on and “play at a different club”.
But the Manchester United legend suggested Rice’s position as a holding midfielder means he is worth nowhere near the Hammers’ £100million asking price.
Declan Rice has been linked with a summer move away from West HamAlamy
Gary Neville has urged Rice to join a new clubRex
West Ham boss David Moyes previously claimed it will cost a British transfer record for Rice to leave the club.
Roy Keane recently suggested he hasn’t “kicked on” enough this season to justify such an enormous price tag.
The likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with a big summer move for the 24-year-old.
But United legend Neville admitted he agrees with former Old Trafford team-mate Keane’s view that Rice can still improve as a midfielder.
He told Sky Sports: “I heard what Roy said and I do agree with him.”
He went on to add: “I personally feel at this moment in time that Declan does need to go and work under a different set up.
“He needs to drive forward in his career, he needs to go and play at a different club.”
Neville claimed Rice needs to move on from West Ham, but he wouldn’t spend over £100m on the midfielder if he were Manchester United.
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The Old Trafford icon suggested there is a “cap” on what teams should be willing to pay for a holding midfield player.
Neville continued: “For me, I wouldn’t be spending £110-120million on Declan Rice if I was Manchester United this summer.
“I would spend £50 [or] £60million on Declan Rice but I wouldn’t be spending £100 or £120million which is what is being reported.
“Because I feel in that position, I still feel like he’s a lot of growth.”
Neville continued: “I think a holding midfield player, a player who sort of connects the back to the front and sort of links play, to me that feels like a cap of about £50-60million, £65million.
“It doesn’t feel like a £100m position.”
The TV pundit admitted Rice still has a long way to go to reach the levels of United ace Casemiro and Manchester City star Rodri – masters of the holding position.
Neville concluded: “I think he’s a brilliant lad.
“But I agree with some of Roy’s points that I think there’s a lot of growth and lot to do for Declan to do to get up to the levels of Casemiro [and] Rodri, players are playing at the tops of their games in those positions.”