Exciting move: Nuno wants to sign a star with shades of Rice for West Ham

[ad_1] West Ham United have had blended luck relating to recruitment over the previous few years.

On the one hand, the Hammers seem to have lastly discovered the precise supervisor in Nuno Espírito Santo and a few actual expertise in gamers like Mateus Fernandes and Callum Wilson.

Nonetheless, the East Londoners have additionally made their fair proportion of poor signings and have not actually ever discovered a correct Declan Rice substitute.

Happily, which may quickly change, with studies linking the membership with a Rice-like worldwide.

West Ham goal Rice-like star Throughout his years in East London, Rice made 245 appearances for West Ham, scoring 15 objectives and offering 13 assists.

The Englishman's position advanced from a purely defensive one into extra of an all-action midfielder by the point he left for a whopping £105m.

Since then, whereas they've tried, it might be truthful to say that the membership have didn't discover a appropriate substitute, or one which has even come shut for that matter.

<img width="1650" height="826" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="kaelan-caesey-declan-rice-west-ham-opinion-premier-league" data-img-url="https://static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/kaelan-caesey-declan-rice-west-ham-opinion-premier-league.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" src="https://static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/kaelan-caesey-declan-rice-west-ham-opinion-premier-league.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2"/> The excellent news is that the seek for a Rice-like star might quickly be coming to an finish.

At the least that's in keeping with a current report from TEAMtalk, which claims that West Ham are keen on Ruben Neves.

The report has revealed that Nuno would like to convey his former participant to the London Stadium in January or the summer time and has already requested the membership to look into making a deal occur.

Nonetheless, whereas the Portuguese star is open to a return to English soccer, he's additionally courting curiosity from the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle United, who may be capable to provide him a extra enticing venture.

In all, it might be an advanced switch to recover from the road, however given Neves' potential and particularly with Nuno on the helm, West Ham needs to be preventing for him, as he might be the membership's subsequent Rice.

How Neves compares to Rice Now, it needs to be stated that whereas Neves would symbolize a wonderful signing for West Ham, and probably be the long-awaited Rice substitute, it might be unfair to count on him to be simply pretty much as good.

<img width="1650" height="826" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="Ruben Neves celebrates for Wolves" data-img-url="https://static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ruben-neves-wolverhampton-wanderers-transfer-opinion-premier-league.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" src="https://static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ruben-neves-wolverhampton-wanderers-transfer-opinion-premier-league.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2"/> The Englishman is a bona fide world-class participant, and whereas the Portuguese star might actually get there, he'd probably be only a half-step down in high quality, which might nonetheless be a major improve on what the membership have at present.

With all that stated, what similarities do the gamers share then?

<img width="1650" height="1376" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="Declan Rice West Ham record (timeless)" data-img-url="https://static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/declan-rice-west-ham-record-timeless.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" src="https://static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/declan-rice-west-ham-record-timeless.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2"/> Effectively, at the start, like the previous Hammers star, the Al Hilal monster is somebody who can fulfil a number of totally different roles in the course of the park.

For instance, his most-played place is defensive midfield, however he is additionally performed 75 membership video games in central midfield, exhibiting he will be that all-action midfield destroyer if wanted.

Second, the Santa Maria da Feira-born maestro is an excellent set-piece taker, whether or not it is free-kicks, corner-kicks or penalties.

For instance, he has scored seven direct free-kicks and 18 penalties in his senior profession, in addition to a handful of absolute screamers.

Furthermore, like Rice throughout his days in East London, the 63-capped worldwide maybe did not get the appreciation he deserved in England as a result of he did not play for a 'large six' facet, which is why analyst Raj Chohan as soon as labelled him "essentially the most underrated participant in world soccer."

Lastly, on high of all the things else, FBref additionally ranked Neves because the seventh most comparable midfielder to Rice within the Premier League for the 22/23 season.

Rice & Neves

Statistics per 90

Rice

Neves

Non-Penalty Anticipated G+As

0.13

Progressive Passes

6.59

6.51

Key Passes

1.02

0.96

Passes into the Penalty Space

0.36

0.45

Tackles + Interceptions

3.90

3.85

Carries

40.0

39.3

All Stats by way of FBref for the 22/23 PL

This conclusion was reached as a result of the 2 ranked carefully throughout a number of metrics, corresponding to non-penalty anticipated objectives plus assists, progressive and key passes, tackles plus interceptions, carries, and extra, all per 90.

In the end, it may be a tough deal to get achieved, however West Ham needs to be doing all they'll to signal Neves in 2026, as he is an distinctive participant and might be the Rice substitute they've wanted for nearly three years.

<img width="440" height="364" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="Declan Rice celebrating for West Ham." data-img-url="https://static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/declan-rice-celebrating-for-west-ham.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=220&h=182&dpr=2" src="https://static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/declan-rice-celebrating-for-west-ham.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=220&h=182&dpr=2"/> Associated