Kieran Trippier believes England teammate Declan Rice is better than Thomas Partey and Casemiro, as the West Ham star continues to be the subject of major transfer interest.
Rice, 24, is expected to the leave the Hammers in the summer after admitting he wants to play Champions League football in the near future. West Ham, who are in a relegation battle, cannot offer that, with Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as long-time suitors Chelsea, on red alert.
Ghana international Partey and Brazil star Casemiro have both received praise this season due to their performances for Arsenal and United respectively, but Newcastle ace Trippier thinks Rice is better than both - and is now firmly entrenched among the world's best midfielders.
"Declan’s unbelievable," Rice told Rio Ferdinand's Vibe with FIVE podcast. "I don’t know if you watched the game the other day when we [ Newcastle ] played West Ham, just his intelligence, the way he breaks up play, how he travels with it, powerful, unbelievable. Probably one of the best in the world in what he does."
Trippier was then asked if he thinks Rice is better than Partey and Casemiro, to which he replied: "Yeah. As defenders you appreciate like me you appreciate the likes of Michael Carrick or Declan, it makes your job easier, they’re just mopping everything up.
"Don’t get me wrong, Casemiro, the trophies he’s won - the [five] Champions Leagues - of course he’s a world-class player, but if you’re talking right now, Dec is incredible, he’s got the age as well."
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Casemiro has had a huge influence on Erik ten Hag's United side since his transfer from Real Madrid last summer. The Brazil international, 30, won three LaLiga titles - among other honours - in the Spanish capital before heading to Old Trafford for a new challenge.
Partey, meanwhile, won the LaLiga title, Europa League and European Super Cup during his time at Atletico Madrid. The 30-year-old, who played alongside Trippier at Atletico, has helped Arsenal go five points clear at the top of the Premier League table this term as a crucial part of Mikel Arteta's side.
The fact that Trippier rates Rice higher than Casemiro and Partey speaks volumes. The Englishman has established himself as one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League during the last five-and-a-half years, making 188 appearances in the competition.
Rice helped West Ham reach the semi-finals of the Europa League last season. He also helped England reach the final of Euro 2020 and has won 39 senior caps for Gareth Southgate's side to date. He is a two-time West Ham Player of the Year.
Valued by his club at £120million, which would be a British-record transfer fee, Rice has just 17 months left on his contract, which can be automatically extended by West Ham for a further 12 months. As such, the Hammers will refuse to sanction a cut-price move this summer - but are aware of Rice's desire to test himself at a higher level.
Speaking in December, Rice announced his desire to play Champions League football. He said: "100 per cent I want to play in the Champions League. For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that.
"I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in."
