FORMER MANCHESTER CAPTAIN AND PUNDIT GARY NEVILLE has agreed with Roy Keane's sentiment's that Declan Rice needs to do more to justify the hype he gets from fans and pundits.
This week Keane was doing punditry for ITV for the West Ham and Manchester United FA Cup game and claimed that he didn't buy into the hype around the talented West Ham midfielder.
“For all the talk about him, a lot of good PR coming out of West Ham about how much he’s worth, I think he needs to do a lot more," said Keane.
“Doesn’t score enough goals, doesn’t get enough assists.”
"There's talk of him leaving for big money and going to one of the bigger clubs who are going to be competing for trophies and playing int he Champions League. He needs to do a lot more, it's as simple as that," added the Cork man in midweek.
Neville, who played alongside Keane for years, agreed with Keane's stance on Rice.
“I heard what Roy said last night and I agree with him. I love Declan Rice, but I’ve said this for a long time about him, Jamie Carragher will tell you so, said the former United player in an interview with Sky Sports
“When we do Monday Night Football and West Ham play, we do a tactical camera, the high camera. But when I look at the world class holding midfielders that exist, Rice – he doesn’t score or assist enough so he needs to be in the category of a destroyer.
“Then you have to be someone who is highly competent on the ball in linking play and have that knowledge of getting on the ball. I personally feel that Declan does need to go and work under a different setup. He needs to drive forward in his career.
Rice is set to leave West Ham this summer for a huge fee. A number of big suitors such as Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City are all rumored to be in the running for his services.
Neville also does not believe his old club United should fork out the huge fees quoted for the 24-year-old.
“But I wouldn’t be spending £110 million on Declan Rice if I was Man United this summer. I would if it was £50 million, but not what’s being reported. Because I feel like he has got a lot of growth.”
West Ham play Brighton on Saturday at 3pm.
