Aheed Abrar
West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice expected to prefer Arsenal over Manchester United
Declan Rice, who plays for West Ham United, is expected to prefer a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal instead of Manchester United, according to the Mirror.
The England international has been identified as the Gunners’ number-one target ahead of the upcoming transfer window. Mikel Arteta is keen on adding the midfielder to his ranks.
As for the Hammers, they are open to letting the 24-year-old part ways with them. However, the Irons want interested parties to match the £100 million-plus valuation for their captain.
The North London-based club have made considerable preparations so far in their pursuit of Rice. But the Emirates Stadium side are aware that they could face competition from the Red Devils and other teams in the English top flight.
As things stand, the English national has made sure to avoid relegation with West Ham this season. David Moyes’ team are also in the Europa Conference League final, where they will face Fiorentina.
Arsenal have exceeded expectations in the current campaign. The Gunners gave Manchester City a tough fight for the title, but in the end, their efforts fell short. Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey have been Arteta’s preferred options in the middle of the park. But their future at the club is uncertain.
Hammer Of The Year X3. Thank you @WestHam fans ⚒️😁 pic.twitter.com/Rim7l91ji6
— Declan Rice (@_DeclanRice) May 22, 2023
As for United, we signed Casemiro last summer. The Brazilian has become a key player for Erik ten Hag at the Old Trafford side. Without the 31-year-old in the team, the Red Devils have struggled to get positive results.
On the bench, Scott McTominay and Fred have been the most prominent backups for the engine room in the current campaign. However, the two have been inconsistent in their performances since the Dutch manager’s arrival.
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Yet, with Casemiro having cemented his place in the team, it will be a tough task for anyone to come in and displace the Brazilian. Also, with West Ham and Arsenal both based in London, it is understandable that Rice would prefer a move to the Gunners.
