Newcastle United right-back Kieran Trippier has claimed Chelsea transfer target Declan Rice is better than Manchester United midfielder Casemiro and Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey.

Rice has entered the final 18 months of his contract at West Ham, and is also attracting interest from Arsenal and Manchester United.

When asked by Rio Ferdinand to pick between Rice and Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey during an appearance on the Vibe with Five podcast, the Newcastle defender replied without hesitation: “Declan. Declan’s unbelievable. 

“I don’t know if you watched the game the other day when we played West Ham, but just his intelligence, the way he breaks up play and how he travels with it, and how powerful he is. Unbelievable, probably one of the best in the world at what he does.”

Trippier was then quizzed on whether he’d take Rice over Casemiro, he replied: “Yeah.”

Explaining why he would take Rice over Casemiro, Trippier added: “As defenders like me or yourself, you appreciate a Michael Carrick, or what Declan does.

“So it makes your job easier when they’re just mopping everything up. Don’t get me wrong, Casemiro, the trophies he’s won, the Champions Leagues, he’s a world-class player, but if you’re talking right now, Decs is incredible.”

Rice is expected to leave West Ham at the end of the season.