Graeme Souness has given Declan Rice a key area to improve on as the England midfielder prepares for a summer move away from West Ham.
Chelsea and Liverpool are two of the teams interested in the 23-year-old and will both be watching whilst Rice plays for the Three Lions in Qatar. He started the tournament off in fine style, anchoring a dominant team to a 6-2 victory over Iran but was left with more ground to cover against USA.
Rice is out of contract in 2024 and is likely to be at the centre of a major bidding war over the summer in order to earn the Hammers some form of compensation for his services, otherwise they could lose him for free in just over 18 months time.
READ MORE: Lionel Messi next club decided as Chelsea receive major transfer warning from PSG
Valued at over £100m, Rice also plays in a position that is extremely in demand in the current market. Chelsea are dealing with the expiring contracts of Jorginho and N'Golo Kante next summer and Liverpool have had their own turmoil due to injuries.
Former Reds midfield Souness sees the attraction in signing him. "I think there’s a hell of a lot to like about him," he said looking ahead to England's clash against Wales at the World Cup. "He’s exceptionally energetic, covers ground for fun, got a great defensive head, senses danger. He has evolved to be the main man in this England team.
"Downside for me, he’s played 182 games in the Premier League, scored seven goals, that’s one every 26 games, that’s not enough - whether you call yourself a holding midfielder, defensive midfielder, you’re in play all the time… he should be getting more goals, coming onto it more, that’s one criticism.
"Playing for England, if Gareth Southgate was sitting here, he’d counter what I’m about to say to say, we’ve got a semi-final and a final of two major competitions. I think he’s overcautious in midfield, if he’s going to play Henderson, that’s another sitting midfielder who doesn’t get goals or have clever toot and play about him that’s why when you watch England it’s not very exciting. Pragmatic, workmanlike but I think England have better players that would make them a better watch, easier on the eye and could be as solid.
"Given where England are with Walker, Maguire - the season he’s had - to go two holding midfielders against Wales, I’m not so sure."
Henderson is effectively who Liverpool would want Rice to replace in many ways, but the battle to go against Brazil's Fabinho would also be on. None of those two are prolific scorers, and if that's what Souness wants from Rice then perhaps the move to Anfield wouldn't be as good as he thinks.
Chelsea themselves have Jorginho who scores almost exclusively from the penalty spot. Rice's worth is less from his goalscoring and much more in the value of what he does off the ball - as well as what he does on it increasingly. His lack of goals is unlikely to put anyone off, though Chelsea may be hoping it dissuades Liverpool from making a move.
READ NEXT:
Hakim Ziyech and five other players who could leave Chelsea in the January transfer window
Chelsea handed Cristiano Ronaldo warning by Lionel Messi amid huge £186m contract offer
How Lionel Messi can gift Chelsea the surprise transfer solution to Graham Potter's big worry
Full list of Chelsea transfer targets going to the World Cup amid Boehly scouting mission
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
