Sergio Aguero believes Chelsea target Declan Rice should be compared to the likes of Sergio Busquets, Casemiro and Rodri.

The former Manchester City striker says he is a big fan of the West Ham captain and he is backing him to star for England at the World Cup this month:

“For me, he [Rice] is a great player and is at the same level as the best midfielders like Busquets, Rodri and Casemiro. It seems to me that he is valued. What happens is that with him not being in a ‘Big Six’ team, he does not get talked about as much. But he has proven himself, and I think he is one of the strengths of the England team at the World Cup.”

Rice has been on Chelsea’s radar for the last couple of years but, up until now, the Blues have not pushed ahead with a formal bid for the 23-year-old, due to his sky-high asking price.

It is believed that the Hammers may demand as much as £120m for the midfielder’s services and, if he does make an impression out in Qatar, his valuation is unlikely to be lowered any time soon.

However, with West Ham struggling in the Premier League and Rice looking to run down his contract, there could still be a chance to snap him up for a lower amount. Other teams, including Manchester United, may also consider making bids for the England international if his price tag drops but a lot will depend on how he performs in the coming weeks.