Danny Murphy has hit back at Simon Jordan after he criticised West Ham captain Declan Rice for being too safe in possession despite his £100m+ valuation.
Jordan took to the airwaves to blast Rice for not passing forward enough, claiming he couldn’t see how the 23-year-old was being valued at £100m+ by the Hammers and being chased by top clubs from all over Europe.
But Murphy responded to the statement by claiming that playing for West Ham actually stifles Rice’s performances and that if he was at Manchester City he’d be scoring 10+ goals per season with the freedom and quality afforded to him there.
“I don’t look at it in these three games, I look at it over seeing him over the last two or three years,” he said.
“What’s his capability? What’s his ceiling? I think Declan Rice in a good side could be absolutely phenomenal.
Because when he’s let off the leash for West Ham and they’re desperate in games and he starts surging forward past players, and you know he’s got this wonderful athleticism.
“I take Simon’s point. He is a bit safe at times and in this tournament I think against the opposition with everyone behind the ball he’s been a bit safe, but I don’t think he lacks creativity.
“I think at times at West Ham he’s stifled because they’re not a possession based side. You also have to remember he lets Soucek bomb on, because he’s the one who gets in the box and tries to score a goal.
“If you played him in a side, if you put him in City’s side with De Bruyne, and Rodri sitting, Declan Rice would get double figure goals. And he’d start having an impact on games.”
Phenomenal
Despite everything he has done over the last two years, it’s mad to think that there are still people out there who are doubting the abilities of Rice and what he can offer a team.
The value of any potential transfer is obviously also completely subjective too, because he’s going to be worth far more to the Hammers than he will be to wherever he goes, such is his importance to this club.
But as fans we understand that there has to be a compromise at some point to ensure we get some money for him, as he has no interest in renewing his contract at the club and we can’t lose a player like that for free.
£100m is clearly a starting point for the club and we will no doubt encourage a bidding war of some sort to drive the price up, but ultimately if it isn’t a massive sum then the club have done something wrong.
He’s only going to improve as his career progresses and if he’s surrounded by better players he will show that quicker, so Murphy is spot on (although we’re not sure we entirely agree with his goal tally prediction).
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