West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice and Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier could be competing for an England place in the near future.

Chris Sutton has claimed that West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is a ‘better player’ and a ‘better technician’ than Tottenham’s Eric Dier.

The defensive-minded duo could be international teammates in these next few months after Rice made the decision to play for England after representing the Republic of Ireland on three occasions, as posted on his personal Twitter account.

This could now result in both players competing for the number six spot in Gareth Southgate’s XI, with both players having the ability to play that role as well as dropping into a back four.

Nonetheless, former Premier League winning striker Sutton understands that Rice’s controversial decision will make ‘many Ireland fans angry’ as he made his feelings about Dier & Rice pretty clear.

“He’s a better player than Eric Dier. He’s a better technician than Dier,” Sutton told BBC Sport.

“Ireland are not at England’s level so we can’t question his ambition for changing and going to England, but morally I can understand why many Ireland fans are angry.”

Dier is five years older than Rice, 20, and has way more experience than his London counterpart both on the domestic and international front.

Over the course of the season, Dier has played 21 matches in all competitions for his side, scoring two goals and helping his teammates secure seven clean sheets, according to transfermarkt.

As for Rice, after finding himself on the bench at the start of the campaign, he quickly worked his way into Manuel Pellegrini’s first-team plans and is now a key member of the team.

During his 27 matches in all competitions for the Irons, he has helped his side to six clean sheets and he scored his first senior goal against Arsenal last month, according to transfermarkt.

In other news, Andy Robertson says Liverpool teen has taken his game to ‘a whole new level’