Arsenal have been urged to launch a summer transfer move for Declan Rice instead of Moises Caicedo by talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor.
After seeing two bids for Caicedo rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion in the previous January transfer window, the second of which being worth £70m, it has since been reported that the Gunners are still in interested in signing the midfielder.
It has also been reported that Rice is of interest to Arsenal and could make a move for him in the summer.
This has since led to one pundit sharing his thoughts on which of the two midfielders would be a better fit for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor had this to say about Arsenal making a summer move for Rice over Caicedo.
He said: “I think Rice would a better option than Caicedo. He’d add more steel into that squad. He could be Arsenal’s Rodri.
“Jorginho isn’t long-term, so I think Rice would be a great, mega-money signing. It would be a statement to every other club in world football. They can put a marker down, letting everyone know that they can get the big players, letting everyone know that they are back.
“It would prove that players are willing to choose Arsenal over the other teams in the top four. It could be a really big moment for Arsenal.”
The duo’s current individual domestic campaigns, prior to West Ham’s match against Aston Villa, have shown how similar they are and why they have been linked with moves to the Emirates.
Who would you rather see Arsenal sign this summer?
Declan Rice
Moises Caicedo
For example, from an attacking point of view, the Englishman has made more key passes than Caicedo (30 vs 24), as well as having more shot-creating actions than him (74 vs 51).
Then from a defensive standpoint, the Hammers figure has made more blocks (27 vs 21), interceptions (38 vs 36) and clearances (39 vs 20) than the Ecuadorian.
Having previously been backed by Danny Murphy to become a “phenomenal” player if he were to join a top team, Rice has shown why he’d be a top signing for Arsenal and why Agbonlahor thinks he’d be a good fit for them.