Gabby Agbonlahor thinks West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice would snub a transfer to Graham Potter’s Chelsea, and instead, he would join Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
The former Aston Villa striker pointed out that Chelsea has the likes of British record transfer signing Enzo Fernandez on their books, and if Rice gets into Arsenal’s midfield, then he feels he can boot Thomas Partey and Jorginho out of the XI.
Added to that, Agbonlahor thinks, whilst Rice came through the ranks at Chelsea, the project in north London and for the current Premier League leaders is probably the better fit for the 24-year-old.
Come the summer, Rice, who is the captain of West Ham, is expected to head for the exit door at the London Stadium, with David Moyes stating that he would be worth more than Enzo Fernandez.
During the January transfer window, Arsenal pushed hard for that bonafide number six when they tried to sign Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, before they landed the cheaper and more experienced option of Jorginho from Chelsea.
They clearly feel that more depth is needed in that department, but would they be willing to splash over £100 million on Rice, well, Agbonlahor shared his thoughts, as he told talkSPORT (01/03/23 at 6:40 am).
“I think he would rather Chelsea, he was there as a kid, wasn’t he?! And then he got let go,” said Agbonlahor. “You have got Enzo Fernandez there, who has just signed. They have got a lot of midfielders, Chelsea.
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“The way Arsenal are playing, at the moment. He might look at the project under Arteta and think ‘why not?! I can go in there’.
“Jorginho isn’t going to be playing much. Thomas Partey is injured. Declan Rice gets into that side, he keeps his place and he kicks them two players out next season. I think, if you are Declan Rice, then I would join Arsenal.”
RICE IS NOT BETTER THAN PARTEY
From a squad perspective, Rice would be an outstanding purchase for the Gunners because that worry of Partey being injured, and missing games, would be reduced because of what would be on the bench.
It’s just a case of whether those in the north London boardroom are willing to go big on the Englishman, who isn’t impressing Roy Keane despite all this talk about his future.
But Rice’s levels have to step up if he joins a Champions League team because, at his moment in time, he isn’t on the level of someone like Thomas Partey.
In other news, Albert Lokonga shares his exit plan as he opens up on Arsenal future
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