Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Soljskaer has reportedly identified Declan Rice as a key transfer target this summer.
The rumours have been growing for several weeks of the club wanting him but a report in The Independent today goes further with the normally reputable ‘paper claiming that the defensive midfielder’s agents are aware of the interest.
Frankly it would of course be a huge surprise if there wasn’t interest but whether it is in the 20 year old’s interests to swap clubs at this stage of his development is questionable.
Rice himself has indicated he believes he will be better off playing regular first team football – assured at West Ham – and not necessarily so at Old Trafford.
He has even been advised by Sir Trevor Brooking to stick around for two or three years and make his mistakes at the club that groomed him into first team football.
The Independent reports: ‘It is understood that Rice’s advisers are fully aware of United’s eagerness to sign the 20-year-old midfielder.’
Manuel Pellegrini admitted the club may be forced to sell if a “big team pay an important amount of money” to sign the Hammers academy graduate.
It’s absolutely true that every player has his price. I think that such a specialist player as Rice, with an old head on young shoulders, now an England international, playing a position he conceivably could for another two decades, means the price has got to be £150m+. If one of the major clubs got to that level, few would blame the club or the player for going.
It’s no surprise that Declan Rice is being linked to Manchester United. Expect there to be similar reports from Manchester City, Liverpool and even, Arsenal. To be honest, I don’t see Rice moving on for a while yet. He’ll be the next West Ham captain…… especially as Mark Noble is not guaranteed a starting place now