June 14th 2024.
David Moyes, the former West Ham manager, recently took some time to reflect on the success of his former player, Declan Rice. As he praised the Arsenal midfielder, Moyes also revealed that he had advised West Ham to hold out for a staggering £150m for Rice instead of the £105m that he eventually moved for last summer.
Rice had spent six successful seasons at West Ham, making 245 appearances and even helping the club secure the Europa Conference League title just before his departure. Since joining Arsenal, he has continued to impress and played in every single one of their Premier League games last season, aiding the team in finishing second, just two points behind Manchester City.
Moyes credits Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for helping Rice improve even further and believes that the young player, who he sees as a future England captain, is now worth £150m. "Sometimes you want to take credit, but Mikel has done a great job with him," Moyes said on talkSPORT. "There were areas where Declan needed improvement, and I think he's definitely shown that he's grown as a player."
The former West Ham manager also revealed that he had predicted Rice's value would reach £150m, even when others doubted him. "A couple of years ago, people were saying, 'you'll never get £100m for Declan'," Moyes recalled. "I was saying, 'no, we'll get £150m for him'."
Moyes also spoke highly of Rice's character, both on and off the field. "He's a top boy, and everyone knows that," he said. "He conducts himself brilliantly, and he's a great example for young players."
As for Rice's potential to become the future captain of England, Moyes had no doubt in his mind. "I always saw Declan as a future England captain," he said. "I've got no doubt that he's being lined up for that if he keeps going in this direction. He carries himself as well as Bobby Moore did, and we all know how respected and liked he was."
Currently, Rice is with the England squad in Germany, preparing for their opening Euro 2024 fixture against Serbia on Sunday. Despite being considered captaincy material, Rice was not named as England's vice-captain for the tournament. Instead, the role went to Kyle Walker, as Jordan Henderson, who had been the deputy since 2018, was left out of the Euros squad.
While Moyes may no longer be at West Ham, he continues to keep a close eye on Rice's progress and has nothing but praise for the young midfielder. And with his current form and potential, it's safe to say that Rice's value is only set to increase in the future.
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