Yorke warns Arsenal, Man Utd target is ‘not as tremendous as everyone makes him out to be’

Dwight Yorke isn’t convinced that Arsenal and Manchester United target Declan Rice can perform at the “top level” ahead of a potential summer move.

The West Ham midfielder has been in-demand for years with constant speculation that he could leave the London Stadium after proving to be one of the best players in his position in the Premier League.

Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea have been consistently linked with the England international and the Gunners in particular see him as a top target for the summer transfer window.

Enzo Fernandez moved to Chelsea in the winter market for £107m and Yorke thinks Arsenal, Man Utd or the Blues will have to pay that much to land Rice.

“David Moyes has said Declan Rice would break the transfer record because he’s seen how much Chelsea spent on Enzo Fernandez,” Yorke told OLBG.

“Rice is an English product so Moyes has to big him up, you can’t let all the foreigners come and take the limelight!

“Rice is a good player but he does not influence the game enough at a top level for me. I would not say he is as tremendous as everyone makes him out to be.

“But with the market we’re in, Rice will have a similar fee to Fernandez, we’ve seen prices like that on English players like Jack Grealish.”

Former West Ham captain Mark Noble thinks Rice would be “worth every penny” to whichever club buys him in the summer and he insists his former team-mate can’t be blamed for wanting to play in the Champions League.

“It’s just the world we live in,” Noble told Standard Sport. “We’re West Ham and these players want to go out and play Champions League football – and do you blame them?

“Dec is no different. Dec will always be hailed at West Ham as a fantastic player and such a top, top person.

“But I don’t think anyone begrudges him wanting to go and win things. We just hope he’ll keep performing like he has been over the last month or so.

“Wherever Declan ends up, or however much someone pays for him, whether it’s here or anywhere else, he’s worth every penny.

“He’s said openly he loves playing at West Ham, but he has got ambitions as a player to go and play in the Champions League and win trophies. I don’t think any West Han fan can actually have an agenda over that.

“Do you blame him for having really big ambitions? Of course you don’t. If he didn’t, he probably wouldn’t be as good as he is.”

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