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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

Gary Neville and Roy Keane have already made feelings clear on Declan Rice price tag

England international Declan Rice is expected to leave West Ham this summer, with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United interested in his services.

The midfielder is Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta's No. 1 target, while Liverpool are set for a midfield overhaul this summer and have been linked with a move for Rice after abandoning their pursuit of his England teammate Jude Bellingham.

United, meanwhile, have been long-term admirers of the 24-year-old whose current contract with the Hammers is due to expire in 2024. Rice is said to have rejected the offer of a new contract last year, although West Ham do have the option to extend his current deal by a further year.

As a result, Sky Sports are reporting that West Ham will 'only sell if the money is right' this summer and are holding out for a record-breaking fee of around £120m. That would make Rice one of the most expensive signings of all time and just the eighth footballer to have been bought for £100m+.

And United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane both believe Rice is not worth that much. Speaking back in March, Neville claimed Rice is only worth half of what West Ham are asking for him, saying: "I love Declan Rice.

"Obviously, Declan knows the position, but when I look at world-class holding midfielders, and players of that type, because he doesn't score or assist enough goals, you're putting him into that category of more of a destroyer. [Then], you've then got to be someone who I think is highly competent on the ball and linking play, and having that knowledge of the subtleties of getting on the ball from the back four.

"I personally feel, at this moment in time, that Declan needs 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. I think there's a lot of growth, and a lot for Declan to do to get up to the levels of Casemiro, Rodri and players at the top of the game in those positions.

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice (Getty Images)

"But, for me, I wouldn't be spending £110m or £120m on Rice if I was Manchester United this summer. I would spend £50m-£60m on Declan Rice, but I wouldn't spend the figures being reported."

Keane, meanwhile, has been critical of Rice's performances this season and told ITV : "I don't think he has kicked on for all the talk there has been about him - he needs to do a lot more. He doesn't score enough goals or get enough assists.

"I have been a fan of him, he is always fit, but I just want a little bit more from him. There is talk of him leaving for big money and competing with teams for trophies, and he needs to do a lot more, it is as simple as that.

"Sometimes I see him play at West Ham, and he goes through the motions and he needs to do a lot more to match the top midfielders in the country. But I think it's better to play well in a bad team. To me, he doesn't stand out in a bad team, which is a worry."

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