Carlton Palmer has discussed comparisons between Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and West Ham United’s Declan Rice.
Speaking exclusively to This Is Futbol, the former Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton midfielder stated his belief that, despite his feeling that Rice may well go on to have a good career as a footballer, there can be no comparison drawn between the 21-year-old and 29-year-old Kante.
“Kante has won a World Cup, has won two league titles. Well, let me tell you, he’s more than a defensive midfield player – he is a complete midfield player, and without a shadow of a doubt,” Palmer told This is Futbol.
“I heard somebody comparing him with Declan Rice the other day. Don’t get me wrong, Declan Rice is a good young player and he’s a good player. And I think he may go on to do good things.”
Rice started his footballing career at Chelsea before being released by the Blues academy at 14 years of age, when West Ham pounced for his signature.
In the three years since making his debut for the Hammers as an 18-year-old back in 2017, Rice has gone on to feature 118 times for the club, chipping in with three goals along the way.
Over the summer transfer window, the £49.5 million-rated defensive midfielder was heavily linked with a move back to Chelsea, with Frank Lampard thought to be the driving force behind the interest, after questions had been raised as to whether Kante can function in a single pivot for his Chelsea side after the 29-year-old struggled with injuries last season.
Do you think Kante is a better player than Rice?
Yes
No
However, it would appear that Palmer is of the belief that Rice and Kante are incomparable.
So far this season, Rice has averaged a WhoScored match rating of 7.05/10 over his eight Premier League fixtures, while Kante has averaged ratings of 7.09.
Their similar ratings may be a sign that it is not impossible for Rice to reach or surpass the level of Kante, though given they are at different stages of their careers – with the World Cup-winning Frenchman eight years his senior – it is clear as to why Kante’s previous accolades have led Palmer to suggest that the West Ham man is not quite there yet.