Newcastle United and England right-back Kieran Trippier has claimed that he would select "incredible" Declan Rice over Thomas Partey and Casemiro.
West Ham United captain Rice has been an ever-present in the Hammers team yet again during the 2022-23 season, scoring once and providing three assists in 27 matches.
The 24-year-old has totalled 11 goals and 22 assists in 222 games for David Moyes's team since coming through their youth academy, and a host of top clubs are expected to be battling for his signature this summer.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle have all been mentioned as contenders to sign Rice, whose contract at the London Stadium expires in the summer of 2024.
West Ham could therefore be forced into a sale this summer before Rice leaves on a free transfer at the end of next season, but Moyes has insisted that interested parties will need to pay north of £100m to sign the former Chelsea youngster.
© Reuters
Manchester United supposedly failed with a nine-figure offer for Rice last summer, but Erik ten Hag's side instead secured the impressive coup of Casemiro from Real Madrid.
The Brazilian has shone in the middle of the park for the Red Devils this term, but speaking to Rio Ferdinand on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, Trippier revealed that he would select Rice over the five-time Champions League winner.
"Yeah. As defenders like me or yourself, you appreciate a Michael Carrick, or what Declan does. So it makes your job easier when they're just mopping everything up," Trippier said.
"Don't get me wrong, Casemiro, the trophies he's won, the Champions Leagues, he's a world-class player, but if you're talking right now, Decs is incredible."
Arsenal are believed to have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Rice this summer, and the Englishman would compete for starts at the Emirates with the likes of Jorginho, Granit Xhaka and Partey, who has also been an imperious force in the Gunners' midfield this term.
© Reuters
Trippier briefly shared a dressing room with Partey at Atletico Madrid before the latter's move to Arsenal in 2020, and he has overcome a spate of early injury problems to play an integral role for Mikel Arteta's team.
Partey's effective relationship with Xhaka has helped the Gunners establish a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, but Trippier did not hesitate in choosing Rice over his former teammate, adding: "Declan. Declan's unbelievable.
"I don't know if you watched the game the other day when [Newcastle] played West Ham, but just his intelligence, the way he breaks up play and how he travels with it, and how powerful he is. Unbelievable, probably one of the best in the world at what he does."
Trippier's Newcastle and Rice's West Ham shook hands on a point when the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at St James' Park last weekend, which left the Magpies fourth and the Hammers down in 17th in the table.
Ben Knapton
