Tony Cascarino claims Declan Rice is better than Spurs midfielder

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has claimed that West Ham United’s Declan Rice is a better player than Eric Dier.

Rice, who has been capped three times for the Republic of Ireland signed a new contract that runs until the end of the 2023-24 season.

The 19-year-old is regarded as one of the Premier League’s brightest talents, with Cascarino already suggesting that he offers more in midfield than Dier.

Dier has already been capped 38 times by England following his switch to Spurs from Sporting Lisbon for just £4milllion in August 2014 (BBC).

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has been ruled out of action until 2019 after he had surgery to remove his appendix.

Dier has made 13 Premier League starts for Spurs this season and is not expected to return to training until next month.

Cascarino spoke highly about Rice’s performance for West Ham in their win at Southampton, where he made the comparison with Dier.

Cascarino wrote in The Times: “He is so composed, a master of simplicity who sits in front of the back four and refuses to give the ball away.

“The West Ham midfielder was impeccable in the first half, making two or three crucial interceptions, grabbing possession and then moving it on quickly. I think he is better than Eric Dier, who does a similar job for Tottenham Hotspur and England.

“It is no wonder that Rice has been chased by England as well as Ireland and bigger clubs will be looking at him, too. He is already such a huge talent.”