Kieran Trippier says West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is better than both Arsenal’s Thomas Partey and Manchester United star Casemiro.
Rice is expected to switch teams this summer, although West Ham are believed to be holding out for a £120m transfer fee for the 24-year-old.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has made Rice one of his main targets for the summer window but the Premier League leaders are expected to face competition from Chelsea and Manchester United.
Trippier played alongside Partey at Atletico Madrid and has also been Rice’s teammate with England’s national team and when asked to pick who is the better player, the Newcastle right-back told FIVE: ‘Declan… Declan’s unbelievable.
‘I don’t know if you watched the game the other day when we [Newcastle] played West Ham, just his intelligence, the way he breaks up play, how he travels with it, powerful, unbelievable. ‘Probably one of the best in the world in what he does.’
Asked if he rates Rice above Casemiro, Trippier replied: ‘Yeah.
‘As defenders you appreciate like me you appreciate the likes of Michael Carrick or Declan, it makes your job easier, they’re just mopping everything up.
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‘Don’t get me wrong, Casemiro, the trophies he’s won, the Champions Leagues, of course he’s a world-class player, but if you’re talking right now, Dec is incredible, he’s got the age as well.’
Rice was speculated to secure a winter transfer move to Arsenal this season. But, the Gunners are expected to renew their transfer pursuit for the midfielder in the upcoming summer.
Speaking at a post-match press conference, West Ham United head coach David Moyes claimed that Declan Rice’s suitors would have to spend more than Enzo Fernandez’s £107 million fee to rope him in.
He said: “Declan was a top player [against Newcastle United], he showed so many things. He’s going to be a top player and undoubtedly, he’ll be a British transfer record whenever he leaves West Ham.”
