Krishnan Sreekumar
West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice opens up about transfer speculation amid Manchester United interest
Speaking to Sky Sports (h/t Metro), West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice has opened up about the transfer speculation surrounding his future at the London Stadium, amid Manchester United taking an interest in the player.
United are looking for midfield enforcements in the summer, ahead of the transfer window opening in just a few weeks. Rice’s performances for the Hammers have caught the attention of the Manchester club, who will try to secure his services at the end of the season.
The Englishman responded to all the speculation surrounding him, saying that he did not focus on all the outside talk. The midfielder elaborated by saying that if he thought about other things, then he would get carried away and it would not be fair on his team or manager.
“I’ve had to play in so I feel like my focus has always been on that. If I thought about other things, I’d get carried away and that wouldn’t be fair on the team or the manager.”
It is not just United holding an interest in the player, with his former club Chelsea also looking to secure his signature in the summer. Rice was released by the Blues from the side’s youth teams as a teenager, and he subsequently joined their London rivals, for whom he now plays.
“I can’t help speculation”
With Manchester City also jumping on the bandwagon for the 23-year-old in recent weeks, interested clubs looking to prise the England international away from West Ham ahead of the new campaign will need to fork up around £150m.
Rice said that he could not help the speculation or the numbers that are getting talked about, but wanted to help his side by going on the pitch and performing to the best of his abilities. The midfielder admitted he also got a lot of stick for the transfer fee on social media.
“I can’t help speculation, even with the numbers that get talked about. I get battered for it all the time on social media, but I can’t help that. I can help by going on the pitch and performing as best as I can.”
Between Chelsea, City, and United, the Red Devils have the biggest case for wanting a player like Rice in the midfield. Their midfield has been a weak link for a while now, yet the club has barely taken any big steps to amend it.
Fred and Scott McTominay have not proven to be a very consistent pair in the middle of the pitch, and with Nemanja Matic set to depart the Manchester side in the summer, the English giants are in dire need of reinforcements in midfield.
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Rice is one player who could step up for the Old Trafford outfit, given his performances for West Ham as well as the England national team. His stock has only risen since he led the Three Lions to the final of the UEFA 2020 Euros last year.
A midfield lynchpin like him is a necessity more than a priority for United ahead of the new campaign, but it remains to be seen if the club are willing to shell out the transfer fee that the Hammers have quoted for their star player. If it proves too much of a financial burden, then a cheaper alternative would surely make more sense.
