A long running debate over Declan Rice’s price tag has been reopened by the man who sanctioned his sale, with a blunt reassessment of Arsenal’s record deal.
The Arsenal chant about getting Declan Rice “half price” was always meant to be a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it is now being echoed by David Moyes who believes Arsenal underpaid when they signed Rice from West Ham, adding that the midfielder was worth far more than the £100m eventually agreed to pay.
Moyes, who managed Rice at West Ham, insists the Hammers did not extract full value despite the size of the deal. Speaking ahead of Everton’s meeting with Arsenal this weekend, he said the valuation never matched the player’s importance or potential.
“I thought Declan was £150m,” Moyes said. “At the time it was £100m and I thought we didn’t get enough at West Ham. We had offered Declan huge contracts but we couldn’t get him to stay.”
Rice left West Ham as club captain, having delivered European silverware and established himself as one of the most complete midfielders in the game. A few seasons later, the argument that Arsenal overpaid has collapsed entirely. Rice has become central to Mikel Arteta’s side and is widely regarded as one of the best players in his position in world football.
Moyes, now in his second spell at Everton, will face Rice with his own midfield options stretched.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is out with a hamstring injury, while Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Everton have been boosted by the return of Jack Grealish after a hamstring problem and the availability of Merlin Rohl following hernia surgery, but Moyes is also considering recalling Harrison Armstrong from his loan spell at Preston.
“It is getting much more closer to a possibility,” Moyes said.
Moyes remains in regular contact with Rice and retains a close relationship with Arteta, whom he managed during the Spaniard’s time at Everton. That has not softened his view that Arsenal drove a hard bargain.
“I genuinely meant it at the time. I thought Declan was £150m. I thought we didn’t get enough at West Ham. We had offered Declan huge contracts but we couldn’t get him to stay. So the club had to do what they had to do.
“I’m still in touch with him. I am going to abuse him today maybe!”
On Arteta, Moyes was generous, if frank.
“Mikel was clever in his football thinking,” he said. “He knew how he wanted to play. He had a really good upbringing, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Glasgow Rangers. He had been around and seen a lot of really good clubs with good set-ups. He was a wee bit of a moaner at times as well!
“He wanted things done right. He was a great captain and great player for us. Mikel was one of my best signings. He has rung me since becoming a manager, also to ask for favours. He has taken my players too cheaply in the past! He’s a good lad, Mikel, and he is doing amazing.”