Declan Rice: England's most important player

Forget Kane, Foden or Sterling, Declan Rice is England's most crucial player right now and pivotal for the World Cup in Qatar 2022 and our future success.

Before the season curtailed temporarily at the beginning of 2020 it was unclear whether Declan Rice could get into the England setup and displace Jordan Henderson or Harry Winks, but the postponement of the season and the Euros lead to Rice being able to prove himself in the next season to ensure he started at the tournament.

So, why is Declan Rice so good? Rice is very defensively secure and sits in well protecting the back four. Rice reads the game unparalleled to anyone else in the league other than Kante. He also leads, shouts, and organises the defence and midfield and it is clear to see why West Ham values him so highly.

When partnered with Kalvin Phillips they kept England so compact and defensively solid throughout the tournament leading us to the least goals conceded at two out of seven games. Their partnership was one of the best duos at the tournament as they managed to keep veteran Jordan Henderson out of the squad.

England's attacking options are limitless and we have not seen talent like this since the ‘Golden Generation’ which of course flopped as it had no real balance in the midfield. This is exactly what Declan Rice adds. Keeping it simple and dispossessing the opposition. Gareth Southgate only has Rice, Phillips, and Henderson at his disposal for the holding midfield role and with Henderson now 31, Southgate should aim to mould the team around Rice.

Currently, West Hams' captain and looks set to be England’s future captain when Kane retires, Rice’s value will be above the hundred million mark and rightly so. West Ham is a club on the up and losing Rice would be the biggest loss to them. If a team like Manchester United came in, they would have to pay well over his market value for him. But would it be worth it? He would win the league for them. Signing Declan Rice would be a bigger signing than Ronaldo going back to Old Trafford.

However, Rice looks happy as a West Ham player and does not look likely to move unless of course, Chelsea came in for him, where he was in their youth academy and would love to play with England teammate and childhood best friend Mason Mount.

Southgate and Moyes have an incredibly special player on their hands and hopefully, in years to come, we can look back and see the major honours and titles he has won. There is not a team in the world he would not start in and at the age of 22, the future looks very bright for Rice.