Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has singled out Declan Rice as crucial to West Ham’s recent resurgence under Manuel Pellegrini, but warned that the 19-year-old will have some ‘tough decisions’ to make in the near future.
The young enforcer was deployed once again in midfield by Pellegrini against Chelsea on Sunday, and put in a brilliant display to restrict the Blues on the way to a 0-0 draw and a valuable point.
Redknapp has now praised Rice for his display against Chelsea and warned that there will be heavy interest in the teenager from other sides looking to poach the Hammers starlet.
In a column for the Daily Mail, he said: “Declan Rice has been crucial to West Ham’s upturn in form. While I believe he will spend most of his career at centre back, playing in midfield is sharpening him up and improving his passing. He has given West Ham a physical presence in the middle.
“A lot of clubs will be sniffing around Rice. He also has to choose whether to play for England or the Republic of Ireland. He has some tough decisions on the horizon.”
OPINION
Redknapp is right to highlight Rice as a key performer for West Ham over the past few weeks, with the youngster responding to a tough start to the season with maturity and resilience. There were big questions being asked about his suitability to a midfield role when Pellegrini first decided to deploy him there, but his performances in recent matches have well and truly put those doubts to bed. Rice’s season so far has been reminiscent of when Mauricio Pochettino decided to convert Eric Dier into a defensive midfielder, with the vast majority of people questioning the decision at first before coming round to it after some good displays from the occasional England captain. Going back to Rice, as Redknapp points out, he will have several tough decisions to make in the near future. Discussions over a new deal at the London Stadium have been taking place, and there is also his international conundrum to sort out. It is a big couple of months ahead for the 19-year-old.
