Graeme Souness is not convinced will improve his game at Arsenal, suggesting the star is too ‘predictable’ to become an elite midfielder.
The Gunners saw their opening bid for the United captain turned away last week
The Hammers have also rejected that bid, standing firm on their valuation of last least £100m, but Arsenal remain confident of getting their man with
The Arsenal boss has identified the 24-year-old as a player who can help them close the gap on Manchester City next season. While Souness thinks he will be a good addition, he has questioned whether he has the cutting edge needed to take them to the next level.
‘If you’re looking for a top, top midfield player, I don’t believe he has enough cute passing in him to be that,’ Souness told .
‘I think he’d be a really good guy, he’d be great to work with, extremely athletic, he senses danger so he’s got that part of a central midfield player’s game, he’s got that.
‘He can get himself into positions where the guys he is playing against that want to find the striker or make a cute pass, he knows that and not everyone can get that.
‘So he’s got that instinctively, but what he doesn’t have is cute and clever passes when he gets into the last third.
‘I think he’s a little bit predictable when he gets on the ball personally.’
Asked if Rice’s game will improve playing at Arsenal, Souness added: ‘He’d make Arsenal better. Would he personally get better? Not sure.’
He added: ‘[James] Maddison has got that final ball. I’m not sure if that’s something he [Rice] can develop.
‘I think that’s something you’ve got or you’ve not got, there’s no doubt he would be an asset to whoever takes him, and I bet he’s a great boy to work with.
‘This is not a criticism, we’re talking about someone worth £100m. But for me, the top midfield players have what he has, and have the cuteness of play further up the field, and they’ll score goals and they create chances.
‘His record is 204 games, ten goals, ten assists.’
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