West Ham United coach Stuart Pearce believes Manchester United transfer target Declan Rice is "slightly better" than what former United captain Roy Keane was when he was at Rice's current age.
Rice, who has been identified as a primary target by United to bolster their midfield options next year, has been nothing short of outstanding in recent weeks, playing a key role in the Hammers' fine start to the season.
The England international, who has been linked with a move away from the London Stadium frequently in the past 18 months or so, netted his first Premier League goal of the season on Sunday, netting West Ham's second goal in their 4-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Scoring goals from midfield is becoming a more regular theme within Rice's game, with the 22-year-old having now bagged three in all competitions so far this season.
Continuing to go from strength-to-strength, Hammers coach Pearce has now admitted that he believes the United transfer target is performing a better standard than what Keane was when he was at the age of 22 and beginning to make a name for himself.
Pearce told talkSPORT : "Rice can go as far as he wants. Every game he takes the field the expectation from me [is that] he needs to be the best player on the pitch, in every game.
"He’s got the tools to do that, the stature to do it. He’s got everything. He is an absolute pleasure to work with at this place. He drives us in midfield.
"I was sat next to [West Ham coach] Billy McKinlay at the weekend and he said to me: ‘Is he as good as Roy Keane at the same age?’ I said I think he is probably slightly better.
"We had Roy at Forest with us before he moved on to Manchester United and I’d have to say he is slightly better than Roy. Whether he’ll have the career that Roy had… it is all there for him though.
"He’s got to stay fit, keep learning and progressing. This season we’re fortunate that he’s added a couple of goals to his game which I always thought he had the ability to do so.
"He drives past people with the ball, breaks things up. He’s an all-around midfielder, he’s probably a Bryan Robson."
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