GONE MAD | John Aldridge: Is Declan Rice worth more than the new Anfield Road stand?

John Aldridge

"I was at Anfield the other day and had a chance to look at the magnificent development at one end of the ground"

"A new stand is emerging that is going to take what is already one of the most atmospheric grounds in world football to the next level.

"The Anfield Road stand development is costing around £80million, which is a lot of money in anyone’s book, but it would not be enough to get you Declan Rice.

"In fact, you would need to spend a lot more to get most of the big names in the modern game and this confirms that football has gone mad in my books.

"While I didn’t like what Declan Rice did when he pulled on an Ireland jersey and then scurried off to play for England, he is a player most Premier League sides would want.

"He is young, talented and has the potential to be a key player for a decade, so I can see why there is a lot of interest in him.

"Yet when I see Arsenal paying £105m to sign him from West Ham, I struggle to get my head around it.

"It used to be the top-quality striker who would go for the big money, but now we see defensive midfielders costing more than most clubs were worth a couple of decades ago.

"Rice’s transfer fee will push the price up on every player in the market this summer, and if a holding midfielder is going for that sum, how much will Kylian Mbappe be worth when he leaves Paris Saint-Germain?