Declan Rice

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Not sure what to think about this potential transfer. He is not a Gundo type player, more of a Rodders one but not on the same level (who is?) so where will he play and how will we set-up if we get him? Will he negate the use of Johnny Stones in the hydrid role and take the slot alongside Rodders with a proper back 3? And then have KDB ahead with Foden in the Gundo role with Jack and Bernie on the wings? Seems a lot of money as well for this type of player.
 
cyan said:
Rice is not an exciting prospect - but he is a good player and seems to have the skill set to come into our midfield. With his PL and international experience I would expect him to integrate quickly rather than take the year that others have done. Which means that value wise he needs to be at least equivalent to Grealish - who two years ago had only 90 PL appearances behind him (+90 in Championship) compared to 200 for Rice - and Grealish still has less international caps. He might not have the flair of Grealish - but in many ways he is much more of a Pep type player who will help to dominate the midfield.

I also noticed in a couple of WHU games that he was playing a more advanced role than DM - so perhaps he can replace Gundo.

So I would expect us to be negotiated up to WHU valuation - whether Arsenal will match that is up to them, but at least they will have been forced into paying at least 100m which might put other bids in jeopardy - and forcing each other to stretch budgets is the competition that the Directors of Football are in.

Then it is up to Rice - I can understand the attraction of Arsenal. He doesn‘t need to move his family, Arteta is a good coach who has improved young players, they have CL football. They challenged us last year and he will improve them to help challenge again - and there will be an excitement in anticipating being a key part of taking Arsenal one place higher. Or does he want the challenge of coming to Manchester into a team that has won everything and proving that he has the ability to play at that level, for the best coach in the world and maintain the standards that have already been set. It’s up to him and and what is important to him through the prime years of his career,
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If its true Pep asked the club specifically for Rice, Gvardiol and Kovacic then we are going to see something new from Pep again next season!
 
Bluearmy said:
Not in my opinion. With Laporte/Cancelo likely going were gonna need at least 1 top level left sided defender and maybe cover at LB

RB. Walker & Rico

CB. Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, Ake

LB. Ake & Gvardiol

Even with Gvardiol signing, we’d have 6 defenders, which is not enough bodies for a long campaign imo…
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You forgot about Akanji, and his ability to play across the back 4, though :). We're all good.
 
WallyA said:
Still disagree with all who replied to me lol.

Rice does not have the agility of a Gundogan like player.

Kovacic was bought for that, Rice will be deeper, not the 8/10.
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Think its pretty obvious this is the case, hence the talk about Phillips leaving to make room for Rice. Kovacic is Gundogans replacement. I think City, right now, see Rice as a player that can play in Rodris position, play in the "Stones" position or even play as a CB if needed. He might improve and grow into a player that can play higher up the pitch over time, but I think its very unlikely this would be any immediate plan for Rice unless we have some kind of injury crisis. Its a lot easier to teach an attacking minded player to be "good enough" in defense, than teaching a defensive minded player to be "good enough" in attack, in my opinion.
 
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Vester said:
Think its pretty obvious this is the case, hence the talk about Phillips leaving. Kovacic is Gundogans replacement. I think City, right now, see Rice as a player that can play in Rodris position, play in the "Stones" position or even play as a CB if needed. He might improve and grow into a player that can play higher up the pitch over time, but I think its very unlikely this would be any immediate plan for Rice unless we have some kind of injury crisis. Its a lot easier to teach an attacking minded player being "good enough" in defense, than teaching a defensive minded player to be "good enough" in attack, in my opinion.
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Mcatee sounds like he will be back as well?
 
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