Roy Keane says Arsenal ‘paid way too much’ for Declan Rice (Getty)
Roy Keane believes Arsenal have overpaid for Declan Rice and has questioned whether the midfielder can improve in an advanced role under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal completed their club-record £105 million deal to sign Rice from West Ham last month after Mikel Arteta had made the England international one of his top targets.
‘He’s obviously going to be surrounded by better players, different demands if he’s going to play a little bit higher up the pitch,’ Keane told ITV Sport when asked about Arsenal’s decision to sign Rice.
‘I think he definitely has that quality in terms of adding more goals, he’s obviously got that physical strength, he can get in the box.
‘They’ve obviously paid way too much for him, he’s certainly not worth over £100 million, Declan Rice.
Declan Rice joined Arsenal in a £105m deal from West Ham (Getty)
‘We can say that about lots of players, I agree. But again, we’ll find out in the next year or two how good Declan is.
‘He turns up every week, he’s a big strong boy. Again, we talk about that physicality, they [Arsenal] lacked that in the last month or two [last season].
‘Has he got that real, top quality in terms of seeing a pass and getting nine, 10 goals? We’ll soon find out.’
Keane also raised doubts over Kai Havertz’s ‘personality’ and ‘desire’ following his £65m move from Chelsea earlier this summer.
‘He’s done it on one or two big occasions, but I don’t think he’s been that consistent,’ Keane said.
‘I think it’s a good buy for Arsenal, every signing is obviously a bit of a gamble, they paid big money for him, he’s certainly has the talent.
‘The only thing I’d question is has he got that big personality? You’re on about leading from the front, I don’t think he’s that out-and-out striker.
‘Sometimes you look at him – has he got that desire, that fight? We’ll soon find out over the next few years at Arsenal but he’s certainly a talented boy.’
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‘He’s certainly not worth over £100 million.’