The Liverpool-linked Declan Rice has to move to big club in the summer, but not to continue as a defensive midfielder.
That's the view of Danny Murphy, who has revealed that he speaks to the West Ham United star regularly. Rice has emerged as one of the most talented midfielders in the Premier League and is currently forming a potent partnership for England with Jude Bellingham at the World Cup in Qatar.
The Hammers managed to stage off interested parties last summer, but former Liverpool player Murphy admits that there is an air of inevitability about the 23-year-old moving to a bigger club at the end of the season.
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Speaking on the Vibe with Five podcast, Murphy said: "I speak to Dec a lot and his dad and he's so ambitious. It's not, 'I'm desperate to leave', but the reality is, I think last year, last summer when people spoke about him leaving, I think (David) Moyes spoke to him, West Ham spoke to him and said, 'do another year'.
"I think they've said to him, 'we'll let you go this summer'. I think the reason's he's saying that in his press conference because West Ham, depending on if they get the right amount, they'll want a decent chunk. But It's time for him to go, he's got to go."
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Rice next summer even though England compatriot Bellingham is considered the Reds' number one target. Clubs such as Manchester City and Chelsea have also been mentioned as possible destinations for the Hammers captain, but wherever he ends up, Murphy believes that Rice's current role as a defensive midfielder is not utilising his full skill set and is all the more reason for him to move to a club where he will be able to flourish.
Murphy said: "The interesting thing about Declan, I've been speaking to him recently and people will disagree. But I think, and I know he'd like this more, he could be a really devastating box-to-box player and get goals. I think he could get double figures in goals, imagine him in a City side with Rodri behind him then him and De Bruyne for example.
"West Ham are not a possession-based team, he has to sit in more because [Tomas] Soucek bombs on and goes forward, he's restricted and the occasion West Ham are desperate and you see him bursting forward last 10-20 of games, it's an unbelievable sight how he goes past people, he's got that give and go's around the box - he'll get double-figure goals.
"I don't think someone should be buying him as a holding midfielder and speaking to him, I don't think he wants to play there full time. When Stevie G ( Steven Gerrard ) came on the scene, everyone was saying he's going to be a holding midfielder but he became one of the best attacking midfielders and I think Declan can do it."
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