Toure gives Rice transfer advice and compares West Ham ace to Fabinho

Yaya Toure has urged Declan Rice to move to a club playing in the Champions League as speculation grows around his future at West Ham.

Rice has impressed hugely for the Hammers over the past two seasons, helping them to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League. His performances have earned him admiring glances from several of West Ham's Premier League rivals and he is now regarded as one of the best midfielders in the top-flight.

But boss David Moyes has consistently rejected the suggestion that West Ham would sanction an exit for his captain. The Scot has even slapped a £150million price-tag on Rice's head amid increased attention from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.

But Toure, who won three Premier League titles with Manchester City, believes that Rice needs to take a step up. And that progression can only come if he is playing in the Champions League, the former Ivory Coast international has claimed.

Toure's transfer advice comes within days of Jack Wilshere branding Rice the best defensive midfielder in the world. Toure did not repeat that claim out-right, but did reveal his admiration for the England international.

"Declan Rice is doing a fantastic season. Let's be honest about it because I really like him, I really respect him as a player. I've been seeing him growing since Pellegrini was the head coach of West Ham," Toure told StadiumAstro.

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"He's doing fantastically well. Maybe one more season but I think he should go to the first big club, one more step, Champions League team for example. There he's going to improve and there he's going to be top.

"With respect to West Ham, they're doing fantastically well. David Moyes as a coach I know him, I respect him and with him Declan Rice can still progress, but if he wants to get on top of it, I think he should go to a Champions League team where he can make more impact."

West Ham are currently on course to retain their place in European football next season, sitting sixth in the Premier League. They travel to Lyon for the second-leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, with the score delicately poised at 1-1.

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