Pundit Dean Saunders believes outgoing West Ham ace Declan Rice is a “definite upgrade” on Thomas Partey at Arsenal.
The Hammers midfielder is closing in on a British record £105million move from the London Stadium club to the Gunners.
And Saunders believes Arsenal are improving with their new player, but the pundit has questioned the player’s medical timing in North London.
“In terms of Partey out, Xhaka out. In comes Havertz, Rice. Better or not?” Alan Brazil asked Saunders live on talkSPORT.
“Upgrade,” Saunders replied. “Definite upgrade. Declan Rice covers the ground, doesn’t he? He’s like a better version of Partey. And Havertz for me is better than Xhaka, simple.”
Saunders added: “How does it take so long to have a medical? I had a medical at Liverpool, it took about half an hour.”
Drawn out process
The Rice transfer saga has lasted for quite some time, even after his move to Premier League rivals Arsenal was confirmed. But these things usually take time, particularly when such huge sums of money are involved.
It has been escalated by the understandable impatience of many Arsenal supporters to finally see the deal over the line, with the initial agreement with West Ham only the first piece of the complicated puzzle.
Those fans will be over the moon when everything is signed and the England ace has passed his medical, with manager Mikel Arteta then able to get going with his new star.
West Ham will also want the deal done as soon as possible as they continue their search for a Rice replacement, with Arteta and Hammers boss Moyes simply wanting as much time as they can to work with their new players ahead of the new campaign, which is rapidly approaching.
