West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has spoken of his high admiration for Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante.
The 21-year-old, a long-standing target for the Hammers’ London rivals, was speaking to Henry Winter in an interview for The Times where he declared he watches the Frenchman for inspiration when focusing on his own game and his personal development in a similar role.
Rice said: “The main one I’ve always watched is Kanté in my position. Sometimes in games, I get sucked out of position a little bit, attracted to the ball.
“I’m so enthusiastic to get the ball back for the team, I’m probably just better off saving my legs sometimes. I do more running than I should, put it that way.”
Having captained the Hammers this season whilst playing every single minute of Premier League football for David Moyes’ side, Rice has quelled the rumours linking him with a move away from the London Stadium – at least for the time being.
The 21-year-old named another midfield maestro when discussing his own pitfalls: ”I’m so enthusiastic just to go and win the ball back where pretty much everything would come through me anyway if I stood right in the middle. That’s what [Sergio] Busquets and Kanté do.”
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It’s not quite a come-and-get-me plea from Rice, but also perhaps not the ideal club from whom to cite his most admired player given the intense transfer speculation. Indeed, those comments could well encourage Frank Lampard to make another attempt at signing the West Ham man.
On a positive note, Rice’s desire to watch midfielders who are among the top of their profession in order to improve his own game is to be admired. Hopefully his homework will come to fruition and West Ham will be the benefactors.
Some Irons fans may be resigned to perhaps losing Rice should an offer too good to refuse come in from Chelsea. However, whilst nothing is on the table as things stand, there remains hope that the London-born midfielder will remain a Hammer for a long time to come.
