Pundit says 24-year-old Arsenal player could be the next Franz Beckenbauer

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Declan Rice is one of the best midfield players in the Premier League right now.

The England international has been utterly brilliant for Arsenal this season, but now, he’s been touted for a potential position change.

Indeed, speaking on The Stand With Eamon Dunphy, John Giles has shared his verdict on Rice’s role, and his future at Arsenal, and he reckons that as Rice gets older and more experienced he may move back to play as a centre-half.

Giles says that he can see an element of Franz Beckenbauer in Rice, claiming that his mix of speed, ability and technique could allow him to be a top defender.

Declan Rice could be like Franz Beckenbauer

Giles shared his verdict on the player.

“The thing about Rice, when he gets older I think he will be a top class centre-back. It will be a Bobby Moore/Beckenbauer situation. I played against both of those, Bobby Moore was a midfield player in my time. Bobby could mark anybody,” Giles said.

“Back to your point do you think Rice could be a Beckenbauer-type player?” Giles was asked.

“Yes, I do, I think he has the ability, he’s quick and as he gets older, he will have the experience and the technique to be a top class centre-back,” Giles said.

Interesting

This is very interesting verdict on how Rice can develop.

For a long time, people have been urging Rice to add more goals and attacking output to his game, but Giles reckons that he could end up dropping further back instead.

Rice started out as a centre-back, so he certainly has the skills to make this transition, but, ultimately, it’s up to his coaches to decide if that’s where his skillset is best utilised.

This is an intriguing theory, and one that could be worth thinking about in a few years’ time.