West Ham star claims 120m ‘too low’ for Declan Rice and reveals Premier League icon comparison – 101 Great Goals

ScoreLive July 12, 2023 0

West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca has revealed that he thinks teammate Declan Rice has been bought for a bargain by Arsenal this summer, suggesting that he is worth far more than the nine-figure sum the Gunners are willing to pay.

Mikel Arteta’s side have all but completed a £105m move for the West Ham skipper, who was the heartbeat of the side that beat Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League final last season to end their 60-year wait for a trophy.

Though yet to be formalised, it is understood that Rice has already had his medical at London Colney and is expected to be part of the squad that tours the USA in preseason, alongside fellow new boys Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz.

File photo dated 16-04-2023 of Declan Rice. Arsenal have submitted another club-record bid for Declan Rice in an attempt to land the West Ham skipper. Issue date: (enter date here). 2R9N4Y9 File photo dated 16-04-2023 of Declan Rice. Arsenal have submitted another club-record bid for Declan Rice in an attempt to land the West Ham skipper. Issue date: (enter date here). (Alamy Stock Photo)

It will represent a record transfer for Arsenal, and will be the second most-expensive player signed by a Premier League club (Only behind Enzo Fernandez who moved to Chelsea in January). But teammate Scamacca, who spent last season playing alongside Rice, thinks that Arsenal have got a bargain.

‘If anything, that’s too low! He’s a great player, he reminds me of Gerrard.’, he told Italian media outlets.

“He’s the best midfielder I’ve ever played with”, he added.

Though a clubmate comparison across Scamacca’s short career would offer little boost to Rice’s reputation (Sassuolo’s midfield was hardly world-class), on the international stage it is a different matter, with the West Ham striker having played alongside the likes of Marco Verratti, Jorginho and Nicolo Barella for the Azzurri.

Signed to replace Granit Xhaka in the Arsenal XI, Rice will have his work cut out to match Gerrard’s Premier League goal tally, but will certainly offer an upgrade to Arsenal’s midfield as they look to go one better than last season.