Julian Dicks admitted he didn’t want to join Liverpool ahead of signing for them from West Ham in 1993 when talking about Declan Rice.
The former Hammers and Liverpool defender was asked in an interview with Ian Abrahams, which was uploaded to the broadcaster’s Instagram account, whether he thought Rice would stay at the London Stadium for at least another year.
“Erm yeah I mean Declan is obviously a fantastic player, level-headed as well, hopefully he stays like it,” stated Dicks.
“You’d like him to say another year at West Ham, but he has to keep progressing and he can’t be the same as the season just gone, he has to get better each season.
“He’s not the finished article by the long stretch, you’re the finished article when you’re 25,26 and in your prime, erm but the thing is you have to keep progressing every year.
“Declan Rice works hard, he’s a great lad and he has a great head on him like you said, hopefully, he stays like it, I think he will and hopefully everything will be there for him.”
Abrahams then pointed out that Dicks personally knew how hard it was to turn down a big club as he joined Liverpool from West Ham during his playing career, and the former Reds shared he didn’t want to join Liverpool at that time.
“Yeah it is difficult,” responded Dicks.
“The thing is, I didn’t want to go to Liverpool so, but I enjoyed it when I was there under Graeme Souness, love Graeme Souness, but I was more than happy to come back to West Ham and for Declan, he is still a young lad so hopefully, he has got many many years in the game.”
OPINION
Dicks clearly had no choice when it came to joining Liverpool back in the day, but it seems he still enjoyed his time at Anfield. The left-back made only 24 appearances for the Reds, scoring three goals in the process, before being sold back to the Hammers. While some Liverpool fans may not like a former player admitting they didn’t want to join the club, it’s hard not to respect him. Dicks in no way disrespected the Reds, he quickly added he enjoyed his time, but clearly, his love for West Ham was too strong to see him being willing to leave at the time. The 50-year-old played 117 times for the Hammers and is synonymous with them as a result, and having an affection towards one club isn’t really an offence. However, you do feel Liverpool fans will shrug off these remarks by Dicks; but they may be enough to keep some West Ham supporters up at night. Dicks is clearly highlighting how a move can be out of a player’s hands, and that will make them worry about Rice. The 20-year-old Hammers midfield enforcer is a key part of Manuel Pellegrini’s side after featuring 38 times for them last season, starting 89% of league games in the process, and even if he loves the club; it may not be enough to see him stay put.
