Former England and Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has said that if West Ham United captain Declan Rice joined Manchester City, he would scored ten goals a season.
Much has been said about Rice in recent days with the midfielder playing in all three of England's World Cup matches so far.
Earlier in the week, former Hammers defender and coach Stuart Pearce said that he wanted to see more from Rice after his display in England's win over Wales, while in a press conference on Thursday, he wanted to be playing Champions League football, pointing towards a potential transfer exit.
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Murphy, whose career saw him play 246 times for Liverpool between 1997 and 2004, as well as winning nine England caps, has said that Rice for England is forced to play a defensive role and if he joined Man City at club level, playing alongside Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne and Spaniard Rodri would make me a consistent scorer.
"I dont look at it in these three games, I look at it overall seeing him in the last two or three years," Murphy told talkSPORT. "What is his capability? What is his ceiling?
"I think Declan Rice in a good side is going to be absolutely phenomenal because when he's let off the leash for West Ham and they are desperate in games and he starts surging forward past players and he's got this wonderful athleticism.
"He's a bit safe at times and in this tournament I think against the opposition, everyone behind the ball, he's been a bit safe but I dont think he lacks creativity. I think at times at West Ham, he's stifled because they are not a possession based side, he also has to let (Tomas) Soucek bomb on because he's the one who has to try and get in the box and try and score a goal.
"If you played him in the City side now with De Bruyne, him and De Bruyne with Rodri sitting, Declan Rice would get double figure goals and he'd start having an impact on games."
Rice has been one of only seven England played to start all three matches alongside Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.
In all three games, Rice has played in midfield with Bellingham, with the Hammer playing deeper so that Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Bellingham can play in a more advanced role.
Murphy added that while Rice is very good at doing the defensive duties, he thinks he could be even better if he was given more license to get forward.
"I think the way we're playing at the moment, if you look at the why we have set-up in the games, we've played a 4-3-3, he's the one that out of the midfield three has to stay," added Rice.
"When you've got two others like Bellingham and Mount who are going to try and take more risks and be creative, you do need one who is very disciplined and more economical with the ball, so I understand his role.
"I think one of his strengths is understanding the discipline that he's got to have to play the role but if you let him off, I think he would phenomenal and I think he wants to be more box-to-box."
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