This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
With England set to face off against Montenegro on Thursday night, a number of players will be vying for a starting berth within Gareth Southgate’s first-choice XI, but Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings is not deserving of a first home start; on the basis of current form.
The centre-back had impressed in his first three games to receive a call-up to the Three Lions senior squad, making 42 clearances in that time, but he did not feature in September’s international break.
However, the former AFC Bournemouth man did make his first start in the 6-0 demolition of Bulgaria in October.
Since the last round of international fixtures, Mings has started Villa’s last four games, with his side failing to keep a clean sheet in that period alongside losing their last three to Manchester City, Liverpool and most recently Wolves.
Although the defender has recently played arguably the league’s two best teams in Liverpool and City, a sense of leniency could be applied to the unimpressive defensive record his side have conjured up, but the individual performances of the £26.5m summer signing have also dropped.
According to the individual match ratings on WhoScored, in Mings’ first three top-flight games as a Villa player, he recorded an average rating of 7.42 which consequently led to his call-up, but in the last four Premier League matches his average has dropped by nearly 13% to 6.46 per match.
Not only has Mings’ defensive unit been unable to keep the opposition out, but the centre-back’s own individual performances have seemingly dropped in comparison to his early-season displays.
With his club side now sitting in 17th place, just three points above the relegation zone, Mings returning to form will be vital for Dean Smith’s side if they are to retain their top-flight status after having ended their three-year absence.
Yet on Thursday night, if Southgate is to select his starting XI on the basis of current form, the inclusion of Mings is not a decision that the England boss can comfortably justify given the decline in the performances of the Villa man.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Sheffield Wednesday must shake off their uncertain future when they return to Championship action this weekend.
The Owls face a tough trip to the Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion, and with the strong possibility of the club facing a points deduction sometime in the future, they must rack up as many positive results as possible.
Recent matches have seen a worrying trend emerge as Garry Monk’s side have rued their lack of late game management – had they not conceded so many goals in the dying stages, then they could well be sat much nearer their upcoming opposition.
On the Chalkboard
The 40-year-old will be tasked with a selection dilemma across the pitch as many players will have used the time off during the international break to resolve any niggles and injuries.
In defence lies the biggest decision of all as Monk pretty much has all of his options available, including the unseen David Bates, who played for the U23s last week.
Last time out against Swansea City, captain Tom Lees made his return to the side after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, and it didn’t exactly go to plan as the Owls conceded two goals and only managed to garner a solitary point despite taking the lead in the 91st minute.
He replaced Julian Borner, who was only absent through a virus, meaning he should certainly be back to play this weekend.
This will leave Monk with a problem as it is likely to be his captain versus August’s Player of the Month for one of the two spots at centre-half with Dominic Iorfa claiming the other.
The Wednesday chief must revert back to his tried and tested defence, the one that had kept four clean sheets in nine league matches.
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He may be torn between being loyal to both players, but in their current circumstances, it would make sense to opt for what has been proven to work.
Borner averages more clearances (4.4), interceptions (1.5) and tackles (1) per game than Lees, via WhoScored, while he also ranks as their second-best player with an average rating of 7.15.
If he wasn’t their captain, then this decision would be a no-brainer based on those figures alone.
Still looking to improve their midfield choices, Liverpool are reportedly battling to land a former Manchester United gem who is currently on course to become a free agent in 2025.
Liverpool transfer news
The Reds had an interesting summer and one that didn't pick up until the latter stages. It looked as though they were set to go the entire transfer window without handing new boss Arne Slot a single fresh face before Giorigi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa arrived. Whilst the latter will play a part as soon as possible, however, Mamardashvili has been sent back on loan to Valencia for the season.
Those arrivals have still left room for some unanswered questions though. As things stand, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all set to leave as free agents next summer in what would spell disaster for those at Anfield. Losing all three star men would be the ultimate blow but seemingly an avoidable one, given that Van Dijk and Salah have at least reiterated their desire to stay put.
What's more, there are still questions to be asked about Liverpool's midfield following their failure to sign Martin Zubimendi in the summer; questions that could yet receive a surprise answer.
Liverpool ace was meant to be the new Sterling, now he’s a free agent at 28
The talent has endured a rapid decline in recent years.
ByEthan Lamb Sep 12, 2024
According to reports relayed by The Metro, Liverpool are now battling to sign Angel Gomes, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the campaign following the expiry of his current contract at Lille.
A Manchester United academy graduate who rejected a large contract offer before leaving Old Trafford on a free transfer in 2020, Gomes has also reportedly attracted Newcastle United, who are weighing up a January bid, while Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham are also considering a move.
The central midfielder recently impressed on his full England debut in a 2-0 victory over Finland and could now make his return to the Premier League as a player ready to hand Manchester United the ultimate regret.
"Impressive" Gomes is Premier League-ready
After quietly transforming into a technically flawless midfielder away from the creator that he became at Old Trafford, Gomes is ready to take a permanent place back in the spotlight of English football once again, especially after making his debut for the Three Lions.
Of course, Liverpool would be a controversial move, but rivalries aside, he may well be the midfielder that Slot is looking for to finally complete his midfield next summer. Given that Gomes will be a free agent too, the deal certainly makes sense on the spending front.
If the 24-year-old does get a move, then analyst Ben Mattinson will undoubtedly be among those full of praise, having described Gomes as "always impressive" for Lille last December.
With a number of clubs reportedly eyeing a move, Gomes is set to have the most important decision of his career so far to make next summer, which could end with a controversial Anfield switch.
Celtic enjoyed a busy end to the summer transfer window last week with three new additions to their first-team squad on deadline day on Friday.
The Hoops dipped into the market to snap up Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, and Auston Trusty from Augsburg, Dundee, and Sheffield United respectively on permanent deals, in an attempt to bolster Brendan Rodgers' options across the park.
Adam Idah, Paulo Bernardo, Alex Valle, Kasper Schmeichel, and Viljami Sinisalo had already been added to the group prior to deadline day, with all bar Valle coming in as permanent signings.
The Scottish giants showed their ambition in the summer transfer window by smashing their club-record on Engels, who they have reportedly paid £11m for, eclipsing the £9m spent on Odsonne Edouard from PSG in 2018.
Celtic and Rodgers will now hope that their investment pays off in the coming months and years, with the Belgian whiz performing on the pitch and raising his own value to potentially be sold on for a big profit in the future.
The Scottish Premiership champions invested that money after they lost central midfielder Matt O'Riley to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, in a deal that cemented a masterclass by the club.
Celtic's Matt O'Riley masterclass
At the start of 2022, former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou swooped to sign the Danish talent from English League One side MK Dons for a reported fee of £1.5m.
The young midfielder, who had started his career with Fulham, had racked up ten goals and eight assists in 54 appearances for the third tier outfit.
O'Riley hit the ground running in Scotland, with a return of four goals and two assists in his first 16 Scottish Premiership outings, and managed three goals and 12 assists in his first full league season in the 2022/23 campaign.
The superb maestro then enjoyed his best year in a Celtic jersey in what turned out to be his final season with the club under Brendan Rodgers last term.
Sofascore rating
7.91
1st
Goals
18
1st
Assists
13
1st
Big chances created
14
1st
Key passes per game
2.5
1st
As you can see in the table above, O'Riley was the biggest attacking threat in the entire squad in the 2023/24 campaign, when it came to both scoring and creating goals.
The central midfielder ranked first in virtually every key direct attacking statistics in the Premiership, with 31 goal contributions in the top-flight to help the team to another league title.
His sublime form in Scotland attracted interest from down south and Brighton eventually secured a £25m deal to sign the Denmark international last month.
That transfer cemented a masterclass by Celtic as they turned a £1.5m signing from the third tier of English football into a £25m player for a Premier League club, which is the perfect example of their player development model working to full effect.
It was a Scottish, and Celtic, transfer record fee of £25m but that does not mean that it was the most valuable sale in the history of the club, as transfer fees have inflated over the years.
One player who was sold for more than O'Riley, if you account for that inflation, was prolific centre-forward Pierre van Hooijdonk, who the Bhoys also played a blinder with.
How much Celtic paid for Pierre van Hooijdonk
The Scottish giants swooped to sign the number nine from Dutch side NAC Breda for a reported fee of £1.2m in January 1995 by manager Tommy Burns.
Van Hooijdonk was snapped up by Celtic after his impressive run of form in his home country, with a return of 44 goals in 71 appearances in all competitions for NAC.
The Netherlands international had plundered an eye-catching ten goals in 16 outings in the Dutch top-flight during the first half of the 1994/95 campaign, which convinced the Hoops to sign him for £1.2m.
Pierre van Hooijdonk
That came after van Hooijdonk had fired in 29 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions for NAC during the 1993/94 season, including 25 goals in 31 league matches.
The sensational forward then enjoyed a terrific spell with Celtic in Scotland, scoring 52 goals in 84 matches in all competitions, and earned a mega money move away from Parkhead.
How much Celtic sold van Hooijdonk for in today's money
Per Totally Money, Premier League side Nottingham Forest swooped in to sign the Netherlands international from Celtic for a fee of £5.4m in 1997.
Transfer fees in football have significantly inflated over the subsequent years and, as per Totally Money's algorithm, that £5.4m would be worth a staggering £39.4m in today's money.
Pierre van Hooijdonk
That is more than £14m more than Brighton have spent on Matt O'Riley this summer and suggests that van Hooijdonk's move to Forest was more valuable, relative to the time the transfer was completed, than the Danish star's switch to England was for Celtic this year.
This shows that Celtic and Burns hit gold when they dipped into the Dutch market to sign the prolific striker from NAC Breda, as they made a significant profit on the attacker, who would have been a Scottish record sale in 2024, and enjoyed his talents on the pitch.
94/95
13
4
95/96
34
26
96/97
21
14
As you can see in the table above, van Hooijdonk had a relatively slow start to his career at Celtic before firing in 40 goals in a season-and-a-half in the Premiership in the 1995/96 and 1996/97 campaigns.
The Dutchman then only scored seven goals in 29 Premier League matches for Forest, with a 29-goal season in the second tier sandwiched between two top-flight terms, before moving back to Holland with Vitesse.
Van Hooijdonk bounced around a few clubs, signing for Benfica, Feyenoord (twice), NAC Breda, and Fenerbahce after his spell with Vitesse, and ended his career with an impressive haul of 241 goals.
Forget Edouard: Celtic must unleash teen starlet with 1.25 goals per game
The Hoops youngster has been in incredible form for the club’s B team this season.
1 ByDan Emery Sep 4, 2024
Overall, Celtic hit the jackpot with the fantastic striker as they benefitted from his services both on and off the pitch, for footballing and financial reasons.
Celtic were busy on the deadline day of the summer transfer window last week with three new additions walking through the doors at Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers moved to bolster his playing squad with the signings of Arne Engels, Auston Trusty, and Luke McCowan, from Augsburg, Sheffield United, and Dundee respectively.
The Northern Irish head coach signed two fresh central midfield options after attacking midfielder Matt O'Riley was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Celtic raked in a club and Scottish transfer record fee of more than £25m for the Denmark international, who caught the eye with his performances last season.
Sofascore rating
7.91
1st
Goals
18
1st
Assists
13
1st
Big chances created
14
1st
Key passes per game
2.5
1st
As you can see in the table above, the former MK Dons man was instrumental in the team's attacking set-up during the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign.
The Hoops lost a hugely talented player, who could contribute a great deal at the top end of the pitch, and that is why they swooped to sign Engels and McCowan, the former of whom has been signed for a significant sum of money.
How much Celtic paid for Arne Engels
The Scottish giants smashed their club record transfer fee with a swoop to sign the Austrian central midfielder from Augsburg for a reported fee of £11m.
Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £9m in the summer of 2018 was the previous record, which means that Celtic have comfortably made Engels the most expensive signing in the team's history.
The 20-year-old starlet, who made his debut for Belgium against Israel this week, came off the bench in the 3-0 win over Rangers at Parkhead last time out for his Hoops bow, less than 48 hours after his move was made official.
Engels arrives in Glasgow with plenty of senior football under his belt after featuring in the Bundesliga in both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns.
In the 2022/23 season, the central midfielder showcased his creativity with four 'big chances' created and 1.3 key passes per game in 18 starts in the German top-flight.
The talented youngster could not break into the starting XI on a regular basis last season, however, but did contribute with moments in the final third.
Appearances
32
Starts
13
Goals
3
Assists
2
Ground duel success rate
52%
As you can see in the table above, Engels was directly involved in five goals in 13 starts in the Bundesliga, more than one every three starts on average, and held his own in physical duels on the deck.
Of course, it is now up to him to develop and adapt to Scottish football to emerge as a regular starter and justify his huge price at Parkhead under Rodgers.
One former Celtic midfielder, who went on to be worth more than what was just paid for Engels, the club struck gold with was colossus Victor Wanyama.
How much Celtic paid for Victor Wanyama
In the summer of 2011, Neil Lennon swooped to sign the young talent from Belgian outfit Beerschot AC for a reported fee of £900k to bolster his options in the middle of the park.
At the age of 20, the same age that Engels is now, Celtic snapped up a prospect who they wanted to develop and improve, whilst still getting quality performances on the pitch in the short term.
Wanyama already had 54 appearances for Beerschot under his belt, prior to his transfer to Scotland, and had contributed with two goals and one assist.
Victor Wanyama
The Kenya international hit the ground running in Glasgow and immediately became an important player for Lennon, with 42 appearances in all competitions – including five starts in the Europa League.
In 22 outings as a defensive midfielder, the young enforcer caught the eye with four goals and four assists, which showed that he could push forward to join in with attacks to go along with his natural defensive instincts at the base of the midfield.
Premiership
32
6
3
SFA Cup
5
1
1
Champions League
7
1
0
League Cup
2
0
0
Champions League qualifiers
3
1
0
As you can see in the table above, Wanyama continued to prove his worth to Celtic in his second season with the Scottish giants, with nine goals and four assists in all competitions.
His displays were impressive enough for Lennon, his manager at Parkhead, to describe him as a "world class" player, which speaks to the level of his performances.
How much Celtic sold Victor Wanyama for
After winning two Premiership titles and securing a Scottish Cup trophy in two campaigns with the Hoops, the Kenyan star attracted interest from Premier League side Southampton.
The Saints swooped in to sign him for a reported fee of £12.5m in the summer of 2013, which was a Scottish record transfer fee at the time and showed that they hit gold with the superb gem.
Victor Wanyama
That piece of business represented a masterclass from the Scottish giants, as Celtic raked in £12.5m for a player they paid £900k for just two years prior.
That fee was £2.5m more than the club have just paid for Engels to snap him up from Augsburg and, hopefully, Rodgers will end up looking back on that deal in the same way that Lennon does with Wanyama now.
It is now up to the Belgian youngster to, first, break into the midfield ahead of the likes of Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, and Paulo Bernardo, and then shine in a Celtic shirt.
Wanyama hit the ground running and was an important player for the Hoops in both of his seasons with the club, but that does not mean that Engels has to go down the same path.
Cost £1.2m: Celtic hit gold with star worth more than O'Riley in 2024 money
The Hoops hit the jackpot with the signing of this impressive centre-forward.
1 ByDan Emery Sep 7, 2024
At the age of 20, there is plenty of time left for the central midfielder to grow and develop over the years to come, as a long-term project for Rodgers, and that means that there is no rush for him to make an immediate and big impact in the first-team, despite the transfer fee.
Tottenham Hotspur could be set to return to a familiar face, in order to bolster their side and kickstart a revolution…
What's the latest on Cameron Carter-Vickers to Spurs?
This latest rumour comes courtesy of the Sunday People (25/6; page 61), who suggest that Ange Postecoglou is keen on raiding his old club in order to improve his new one.
Whilst few of Celtic's side would improve this Spurs outfit, there are a select number who might offer fine options to fight for places within the Premier League.
One such example is Cameron Carter-Vickers, who is being eyed up by the Australian boss with a view to organising a reunion.
Given the USA international came through the youth ranks at N17, there are multiple layers of credibility to this story, that could suggest it is a move worth making.
However, the Scottish giants remain in a position of great power, given the 25-year-old still has three years left on his £24k-per-week deal at Celtic Park.
How good is Cameron Carter-Vickers now?
Whilst it is unlikely that many from the Scottish Premiership would come and immediately take English football by storm, the mediocrity of some of the starters for the Lilywhites have certainly merited being dismissed from the starting lineup.
Eric Dier is one such example, who endured a torrid campaign in which he was even branded "not good enough" by pundit Darren Ambrose.
eric-dier-tottenham-hotspur
Whilst he has been struggling, maintaining a 6.86 average Sofascore rating in the league, Carter-Vickers has been excelling in what is just his second year in Scotland.
His 7.14 average rating blows the 29-year-old out of the water, as he completely outperforms the England international as a ball-playing asset. Defensively the 6 foot 1 ace is arguably on par, with his 1.1 interceptions matching that of Dier's, and 2.9 clearances per game just falling short, via Sofascore.
It is worth noting that playing for the champions often leads to a defender having fewer defensive actions to make as he is instead conducting the play from the back, having the bulk of the possession.
When comparing their ability on the ball, this notion is emphasised. Their academy graduate maintained a 92% pass accuracy last season in the Scottish top flight, with his dribble success rate standing at a mouth-watering 100%. The former Sporting CP star could only dream of such figures, as he could muster just 86% and 60% in those areas respectively.
Opta's player analysis tool succinctly sums up how these are shortcomings for Dier in a neat chart too, as his dribbles attempted and defensive actions are left wanting.
it seems that this dud could easily be replaced by a man who once seemed to be the hottest property in north London.
Spurs favourite Jan Vertonghen had been particularly effusive in his praise for Carter-Vickers during his time at the club too, as he noted: "He's still young but he's an absolute beast. He's a real defender. He's strong one-on-one, in the air, he's not afraid and he can play from the back. That's the style the gaffer wants to see from him."
This echoes the sentiment of Chris Sutton, who also branded him "immense". All of this praise combines to compound the inevitable ditching of Dier.
An upgrade is needed, and by returning to a familiar face they could reignite his passion for the club and finally usher in a new age in north London.
Fulham are now "serious contenders" to sign Southampton star James Ward-Prowse, and it is believed he is keen to make the move to Craven Cottage.
Who will join Fulham this summer?
Marco Silva is keen to make sufficient squad upgrades after a very successful first full campaign back in the Premier League.
Fulham secured an impressive mid-table finish and were never in any real danger of the drop. The Whites also contended for a European spot over much of the season, but were ultimately beaten to it by Brentford, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
As a result, star players of theirs like midfielder Joao Palhinha are attracting serious interest from the likes of West Ham, Liverpool and Man United – but Fulham won't be bullied and are set to demand around £90 million for his services.
When it comes to who Fulham could actually sign this summer, rumours have been circulating the past week involving United midfielder Fred, Leicester City defender Timothy Castagne, Coventry City's Viktor Gyokeres and Norwich full-back Max Aarons.
Silva and club chiefs appear to be chasing options defensively, further forward and in the centre of midfield – with a new target in Ward-Prowse now coming to light.
According to the Belfast Telegraph and PA news agency, Fulham are "serious contenders" to sign the Englishman this window and could be in pole position above the likes of West Ham.
This is because Ward-Prowse actually favours a move to west London over the Hammers, who would come in as a replacement for Palhinha if he were to depart.
The Saints skipper is interested in making the move to Fulham, mainly because he sees Silva'a brand of football as the best fit for him as he seeks a route back into the top flight.
Who is James Ward-Prowse?
Ward-Prowse, as proven by his 22/23 performances at St. Mary's, is Southampton's star player.
As per WhoScored, the 28-year-old racked up 13 goal contributions and stood out as their best-performing player by average match rating.
Former Southampton manager Nathan Jones, speaking to the press, also called him "vital" last season.
"He’s vital, I like to get to know my captains and have a real relationship with them, a real personal relationship so they understand decisions we make," said Jones.
“Sometimes we’ll make tough decisions, out there tactical decisions, but he is one that takes everything on board and understands. You see how the group is."
Aston Villa are thought to be in pole position to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo this summer.
What’s the latest Aston Villa transfer news?
Villa have already made a start on their transfer business this summer by reaching an agreement with Youri Tielemans. The club have since confirmed that former Sevilla sporting director Monchi has been brought in as Villa’s president of football operations and will work closely with manager Unai Emery and report to owners NSWE.
One of his first moves could well be for Arthur, who has seen his Transfermarkt valuation drop from a career-high €70m in 2019 to €15m today.
According to reports in Spain, relayed by Tuttomercatoweb, Villa are in pole position to sign the midfielder this summer and are the side who are most interested.
Premier League rivals Newcastle United are also named as a side who are keen, with the player open to leaving Juventus on a permanent basis.
Who is Arthur Melo?
Arthur is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in a deeper role if required. The 26-year-old began his career in his native country of Brazil before moving to Barcelona in 2018 from Gremio.
He made a big money move to Juventus in 2020 after making 72 appearances at the Nou Camp and has gone on to turn out on 63 occasions for the Italian side.
Arthur, on £110,000-a-week, joined Liverpool on loan last summer, however, he made just one appearance at Anfield, but it looks as if he could remain in England with a move to Villa Park.
Should Monchi seal a move for the Brazilian, Emery will be looking to get the player back to his best, with Arthur known as a fine technician and once hailed as "extraordinary" by Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.
It could well be a busy summer at Villa Park ahead of the new season which will include Europa Conference League football. You may argue that a move for Arthur could be a gamble due to his injury history which included surgery last season, but it appears as if this is one to keep an eye on.
Manchester United have Sofyan Amrabat on their wanted list this summer and are set to battle Barcelona to get a deal done, as reported by Calciomercato via Sport Witness.
Who is Sofyan Amrabat?
Amrabat has once more been a regular first-team player for current club Fiorentina this season, managing 29 league appearances for the club with one assist. He's now played more games for the Italian side in the league than any other club over the course of his career too, with 83 outings to his name to date. It shows just how important the midfielder has become to the side since his move from Club Brugge in Belgium.
In fact, the 26-year-old has now become one of the most impressive players in his position for passing in the Big Five leagues. His 67.12 passes per 90 means that he is in the 89th percentile for that figure (or the top 11%). Even more impressive is that despite attempting so many passes, he actually ranks in the top five percent in his position for pass completion rate and the top eight percent for progressive passes.
His vision and ability to control the player and get the ball forward with his excellent passing range has now caught the eye of two big European sides. According to a report from Calciomercato via Sport Witness, both Manchester United and Barcelona are keen to sign the player after he said "goodbye" to his current team following their Europa Conference League final defeat.
However, the report adds that United may have the upper hand though because of their financial power compared to the Catalan outfit. Fiorentina have slapped a 40 million Euro (or £34m) price tag on his head and the Red Devils are more able to pay that fee compared to Barcelona.
Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat
Should Amrabat join Man United?
The midfielder could certainly help bolster the Premier League side's ranks in the centre of the field if he was to join. Erik Ten Hag would be getting a player that is not only a good passer of the ball as previously shown but can also get the ball forward himself, with a knack for dribbling and driving the play forward himself. His rate of 1.62 progressive carries per 90 mark him out as better than average in his position (67th percentile) for example and his 70.6% successful take on rate show that he is able to not only get the ball forward but beat his man too.
In addition, football journalist Josh Bunting has previously hailed the player as "outstanding," admitting that during the Europa Conference League Final the midfielder "ran the game."
Amrabat then is certainly talented and his ability to dictate the play could come in useful at Old Trafford if they did sign him.
West Ham United captain Declan Rice is unlikely to join Bayern Munich instead of top clubs in the Premier League, Simon Jordan has claimed.
What's the latest on Declan Rice?
The England international looks set to depart east London this summer, and Arsenal have made him their top target.
The 24-year-old has attracted interest from German champions Bayern Munich, as Thomas Tuchel is keen on the midfielder, but it remains to be seen whether Rice would elect to leave England and the Premier League.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Jordan slammed any talk of Rice joining Bayern, claiming that the £60k-per-week star would not turn down a move to some of England's top clubs to move to the Bundesliga.
"Declan Rice is not going to Bayern Munich," he stated.
"He's going to go to one of the big clubs in England to try and win the Premier League with an English club.
"He's got no reason to go to Bayern Munich, it's fantastic indexing and a great bit of leverage for other football clubs in England to get their act together to pay the price that West Ham may well want, but I'll be absolutely gobsmacked if an established England player, who is perceived to be one of the best players in his position, will be out of the Premier League playing in Germany, in a league that's particularly dominated by one football club."
Where should Rice go?
All signs are pointing towards a move to Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. The Gunners are the only London side to have qualified for Europe this season, and should he wish to stay in the capital, they are arguably the best option for him.
Arsenal have made great progress this season, with their highest finish since 2016, and could challenge Manchester City at the top of the league again next year.
With Granit Xhaka set to depart, Rice could slot into the Arsenal midfield as a ready-made replacement, and he will be joining a team that looks ready to compete for major honours.
He has also been linked with Chelsea, but their nightmare season which saw them finish in the bottom half, as well as a lack of European football, makes Stamford Bridge a less appealing destination.
Although there may be some temptation to join a heavyweight like Bayern, if the midfielder's preference is indeed to stay in the Premier League, then a move to the Allianz Arena looks unlikely to materialise.