Manchester United could be tempted to make a move for Declan Rice in case West Ham trying to re-sign Jesse Lingard this summer.
A recent column in Daily Telegraph has shed some light on the future of Declan Rice. It appears the midfielder is unhappy that West Ham have priced him out of a move this summer by slapping a £100 million asking fee.
Chelsea and Manchester United are among the clubs interested in Rice, but they are not willing to meet his hefty valuation. The Red Devils, though, could be tempted to re-enter the market for the midfielder should West Ham make any further attempt to sign Jesse Lingard, either on loan or a permanent deal.
It could be a smart decision by the club, knowing West Ham are desperate to secure the services of Lingard. The Englishman had played a starring role for David Moyes’ team during the second half of last season, forming a deadly attacking combination with Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen.
The Hammers have not had much luck in the market this summer. They have failed to sign a single player on a permanent deal so far, launching pursuit of several players including Gaetan Laborde, but struggling to secure a single deal.
It has forced their star player Declan Rice to question the club’s ambition and temerity. The Englishman is committed to remaining at the club for at least another season but is also considering his options at the moment, with Manchester United emerging as an excellent destination.
The Red Devils have already secured deals for Raphael Varane and his England teammate Jadon Sancho this summer. They are appearing to be a force to be reckoned with, notably kick-starting their Premier League campaign with a thumping 5-1 victory over Leeds United.
There is no doubt that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking for an able long-term replacement for Nemanja Matic. And after missing out on Ruben Neves, they could be tempted to make a move for Rice.
The West Ham starlet has already shone for England during Euro 2020 and could be the one to further improve the overall quality of the Manchester United midfield. His hefty price tag, though, could still be a problem for the Red Devils unless they manage to recoup a significant amount of money from the sale of Lingard.
It will be interesting to see whether they can use the playmaker as a sweetener in the deal to sign Declan Rice this summer. With Chelsea also interested, an intriguing last week or so beckons Rice and the tale of his future.
