Merson Says Man Utd Have to Be Braver

Paul Merson has strongly advised Manchester United to make significant changes this summer, including replacing Anthony Martial with an elite striker and making Anthony Martial a free agent.

Arsenal have expressed interest in Brighton's Moises Caicedo and Chelsea's Mason Mount, but Rice may provide better value as he provides more in several areas than his Ecuadorian counterpart.

1. He’s a better dribbler

Rice's powerful centre midfield play is among the most visually pleasing in football - there is few more thrilling sights than seeing him go past his marker and power the pitch forward. And this guy truly lives up to expectations.

His ability to advance the ball out of defense is outstanding, particularly his skill at doing it in press-resistant areas - something crucial for a club aiming to play out from the back with players such as Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho.

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Rice's price tag may seem excessive for an experienced defensive midfielder such as Caicedo; after all, he doesn't appear to tackle as often and receives as many progressive passes from teammates when in possession. Many fans outside the West Ham bubble are concerned that Rice is priced too highly relative to his capabilities as an DM.

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2. He’s a better passer

Rice outshines Caicedo when it comes to passing. He often plays as part of a double pivot in central midfield alongside either Jordan Gross or one of his partners, providing cover against opposition attacks by shielding his teammates.

That requires being able to read the game, drawing opponents out into overcommitting themselves so he can pass around or through them. Take a look at this clip from Brighton's FA Cup semifinal match against United in April as an example.

Here, a defender is in the process of playing an innocent long ball to Adam Webster who appears disinterested as he nears goal. However, Caicedo senses this and plays an exquisite cross to Eriksen who had committed himself to trying to tackle Webster, before unleashing Pervis Estupinan on to play free for an easy goal. Such skills are difficult to teach and harder still to find!