Carragher: Man Utd could sign £70m midfielder and play him in defence Jamie Carragher has compared £70m Man United target Declan Rice to himself – and says he would be a perfect addition to a three-man Manchester United defence. Despite West Ham’s struggles this season, Rice has shone in the midfield and picked up his first England cap earlier in 2019 – earning six more since. As a result, West Ham are reportedly hopeful of attracting a fee of £70million for Rice, who has previously been a target for both Manchester United and Chelsea. Rice is capable of also playing in defence and Carragher sees plenty of his own development at Liverpool in the England international, who he feels would be “perfect” in a back three. “He reminds me a bit of myself,” he told Sky Sports. “I started in midfield and went back to centre-back. “I’m a big fan of Declan Rice because he’s come in and had people say he’s great over different stages. Then this season he’s struggled a bit. “That happens to every player, everyone’s talking about you, then you have a bit of criticism. I think he’s got a bit of character, he never hides, he’s playing in central midfield as a young lad. I think he’s better on the ball than he’s given credit for.” READ MORE: Declan Rice explains why West Ham relegation worries have eased Carragher, who has also compared Harry Maguire to a Liverpool defensive beast, continued: “There’s a slight criticism in terms of how he receives the ball. There is an art to that. But when he gets on the ball, he gets his head up, he’s looking forward. “He’s got something about him. At centre-back he won’t have those problems, everything’s in front of him. that’s why I was never going to be a top-class central midfield player at Liverpool; I was never quick enough with the ball at my feet. “In terms of stepping out with the ball, I think he’d be perfect in a back three. I’d have no qualms about him going into midfield. But at his age, every player’s got to improve.” An Accra-based transfer expert, meanwhile, claims an Atletico Madrid star has made it clear to the LaLiga club he wishes to leave this summer and has a move to Old Trafford as his No 1 preference. The post Carragher: Man Utd could sign £70m midfielder and play him in defence appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Jamie Carragher has compared £70m Man United target Declan Rice to himself – and says he would be a perfect addition to a three-man Manchester United defence.

Despite West Ham’s struggles this season, Rice has shone in the midfield and picked up his first England cap earlier in 2019 – earning six more since.

As a result, West Ham are reportedly hopeful of attracting a fee of £70million for Rice, who has previously been a target for both Manchester United and Chelsea.

Rice is capable of also playing in defence and Carragher sees plenty of his own development at Liverpool in the England international, who he feels would be “perfect” in a back three.

“He reminds me a bit of myself,” he told Sky Sports. “I started in midfield and went back to centre-back.

“I’m a big fan of Declan Rice because he’s come in and had people say he’s great over different stages. Then this season he’s struggled a bit.

“That happens to every player, everyone’s talking about you, then you have a bit of criticism. I think he’s got a bit of character, he never hides, he’s playing in central midfield as a young lad. I think he’s better on the ball than he’s given credit for.”

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READ MORE: Declan Rice explains why West Ham relegation worries have eased

 

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Carragher, who has also compared Harry Maguire to a Liverpool defensive beast, continued: “There’s a slight criticism in terms of how he receives the ball. There is an art to that. But when he gets on the ball, he gets his head up, he’s looking forward.

“He’s got something about him. At centre-back he won’t have those problems, everything’s in front of him. that’s why I was never going to be a top-class central midfield player at Liverpool; I was never quick enough with the ball at my feet.

“In terms of stepping out with the ball, I think he’d be perfect in a back three. I’d have no qualms about him going into midfield. But at his age, every player’s got to improve.”

An Accra-based transfer expert, meanwhile, claims an Atletico Madrid star has made it clear to the LaLiga club he wishes to leave this summer and has a move to Old Trafford as his No 1 preference.

 

The post Carragher: Man Utd could sign £70m midfielder and play him in defence appeared first on teamtalk.com.

James Marshment