‘He’s stepped up’: West Ham 23-year-old is the best player outside the top six – TalkSPORT pundit

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Ray Parlour believes that West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is the best player outside of the top six in the Premier League.

Parlour was speaking on TalkSPORT when asked about who impressed him move outside of England’s biggest clubs.

Rice was among the players named that also included Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes and Leicester’s James Maddison.

The 23-year-old has taken been named club captain at the London Stadium after the retirement of Mark Noble.

Rice was already wearing the armband regularly last season as Noble mainly started on the bench.

The holding midfielder has attracted interest from other clubs in the past, with Chelsea particularly interested.

However, the Hammers have held onto Rice up to this point, and it would take some doing to convince the club to ever sell him.

Parlour’s suggestion that Rice is the best player outside of the top six is one that many West Ham fans would agree with.

And if the day ever came where they were willing to sell him, his price tag would be astronomical.

Rice is the best player outside the top six – Parlour

When asked about the Premier League’s top talents outside of the big six, Parlour highlighted Rice’s importance to the team as one of the reasons he chose him.

“I can pick three or four straight away now,” Parlour said.

“For the importance of what he does for the team, and how he’s stepped up, and he’s been very, very good for England as well. Declan Rice.

His England form has also attracted attention, with Jude Bellingham particularly impressed during the last international break.

He’s a key player in the centre of midfield for Gareth Southgate and will be on his way to the World Cup next month.

Rice has never played in the Champions League, the World Cup will give him the biggest stage so far to showcase his talents.

Journalist Dean Jones suggested last month that if Liverpool can’t sign Bellingham, they could make a move for Rice.

Rice being one of the best players outside the top six is always going to attract attention.

It’s now up to the player to show how loyal he is to the Hammers, and what the club can achieve with him at the helm.