Pranav Nair
Transfer News: Manchester United trio earmark Declan Rice as an excellent summer addition
According to a transfer report from The Sun, Manchester United are ready to make a move for West Ham United star Declan Rice.
The Red Devils are set to lose veteran defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic at the end of the season. In Rice, they will have the ideal replacement who is also a long-term solution to the position.
The United trio of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Football Director John Murtough and Technical Director Darren Fletcher are all in agreement regarding making a move for Rice.
Speaking earlier this month, Solskjaer attempted to downplay expectations by admitting that the club will not spend lavishly this summer. But this has not stopped us from getting linked to some of the best players around.
The 22-year-old Rice has been a key part of the West Ham side that finds itself challenging for a top-four spot. He has led from the front and has shown both leadership and ability despite being so young.
Capable of also playing at centre-back, the Hammers star would be an ideal addition to our squad. However, he will not come cheap and will cost around £80million – a figure touted as United’s entire summer budget.
One weapon United have in their arsenal is Jesse Lingard. The attacker is currently on loan at West Ham and has earned rave reviews for his performances.
The Red Devils value him at £20m and could potentially use him as a make weight to drive down Rice’s price. Whether that is an option both clubs are willing to explore remains to be seen.
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Matic revealed recently that he would welcome a return to Benfica in the future. Eagles boss Jorge Jesus too is keen on a reunion but is unsure if there will be enough finances to see the deal through.
Whether the Serbian’s time at the club is coming to a close remains to be seen.
