Tim Sherwood has put his allegiances aside to recommend that West Ham midfielder Declan Rice moves to Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
Rice is expected to leave the Hammers once the season finishes, with Arsenal one of the many Premier League sides interested in his services. The 24-year-old is under contract until June 2025 with West Ham, but they may have to sell this summer in order to maximise his value.
As exclusively reported by Mirror Football, Mikel Arteta wants to hold talks with Rice as soon as the season is concluded in an effort to persuade him to move across London. Rice is understood to be interested in a move and the Gunners are such a good fit for the England international that former Spurs boss Sherwood won’t even argue against it.
“I would be surprised if he was still there [at West Ham] next season,” Sherwood said on the William Hill and Footy Accumulators podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football. “I think it’s time to do the right thing by the player and you could say possibly the same thing with Harry Kane – they have been great servants to their clubs and it’s right for them to move on to progress their careers.
“He’s been heavily linked with Arsenal and I think that would be a perfect move for him. I think he’d make a real difference. It looks like Granit Xhaka is going to move on with it being the end of his contract and Declan looks the perfect player to slot into that role and improve it.”
West Ham value Rice at £100million, but Arsenal hope they can negotiate that asking price down once the window opens. Rice is desperate to take a step up and play in the Champions League and Arteta’s young and ambitious side would suit him.
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Xhaka is wanted by Bayern Leverkusen and might be tempted to move back to Germany, where he previously played for Borussia Monchengladbach. If the Swiss international does leave, then his place in the side could be filled by Rice, according to Sherwood.
“For me, Declan can play in some of the best teams in the world as a No6,” he said. “I see him in that Casemiro or Rodri role and I think behind those two players, he’s next in line.
"He will add goals. Both Casemiro and Rodri chip in with goals and Declan does as well but just not as many because he’s occupied with the defensive stuff.”
However, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes Rice is simply too expensive for Arsenal this summer. “He’s a player Arsenal will like but not with those costs involved, I think it’s too much,” he said on talkSPORT. “Looking at Arsenal’s business, I don’t think it’s a route they will go down.
“I don’t think they’ve got the money, even though the Champions League will bring some more revenue. I don’t see him as a player Arsenal can afford to buy.”
