Gabby Agbonlahor has launched a stinging attack on Roy Keane and claimed that the Manchester United icon is a "bitter guy" following his recent comments on Declan Rice.
Keane was less than complimentary about Rice following West Ham's 3-1 defeat against United in the FA Cup and questioned whether or not the midfielder - who has been linked with a blockbuster summer move - is worth the enormous £100million valuation that the Hammers have placed upon him due to his lack of goal contributions.
When he was asked about the speculation surrounding Rice in midweek, Keane told ITV: "He has first got to focus on West Ham and doing well for the rest of the season, but I don’t think he has been great this season, I don’t think he has kicked on for all the talk there has been about him - he needs to do a lot more.
"He doesn’t score enough goals or get enough assists. I have been a fan of him, he is always fit, but I just want a little bit more from him. There is talk of him leaving for big money and competing with teams for trophies, and he needs to do a lot more, it is as simple as that. Sometimes, I see him play at West Ham and he goes through the motions, and he needs to do a lot more to match the top midfielders in the country."
But Agbonlahor has hit back with a risky rant at Keane and insisted that Rice is worth whatever West Ham feel he is worth - and the former Aston Villa striker pointed out the difference between his roles for club and country.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor said of Rice: "I've watched him for England when he's maybe got more of a freer role to go more forward, but you watch him at West Ham, he's got to sit there. He's got [Tomas] Soucek who wants to get on the end of crosses, he hasn't got the licence to run forward. When he's at it, Declan Rice, he can run with the ball, he's got that long stride, he can score goals, [he is a] a great striker of the ball.
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"I think sometimes some of these pundits like Roy Keane - who is a bitter guy, I had him [as assistant manager] at Aston Villa and he was a very bitter person - has something against him. He's what West Ham value him at."
In spite of Keane's comments, Manchester United are believed to be one of the top clubs mulling over a mega-money approach for Rice at the end of the campaign. Arsenal and Chelsea are also expected to offer Rice the chance to remain in the capital by firming up their own interest in the Hammers' talisman.
West Ham are braced for serious offers in the summer and it is anticipated Rice will finally depart after rebuffing a lucrative contract offer earlier in the season.
