“Where would he fit?”: Andros Townsend tips Manchester United to beat Chelsea to Declan Rice transfer

Rice was linked with a Manchester United move last year as well (Photo by Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

Manchester United have been tipped to be a better fit for Declan Rice by Andros Townsend, amid interest from rivals Chelsea.

Declan Rice is one of the hottest commodities in the transfer market at the moment, with some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League courting him. Chief among his suitors are Chelsea and Manchester United, who are both being tipped to make a move for the English international. But, as per Andros Townsend on talkSPORT, he would suit the Red Devils better.

For Manchester United, the pursuit of Rice would enable them to land a long-term replacement for Nemanja Matic, with the former Chelsea midfielder in the twilight of his career. It would also land them a genuine holding midfielder – one that they have been found wanting for in recent times.

As for Chelsea, the interest in Rice is interesting, as they already have three established central and holding midfielders in N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic. However, with Billy Gilmour joining Norwich City on loan, a spot in the Blues’ squad is vacant. According to Andros Townsend, though, Rice would be a better fit at Manchester United.

The Crystal Palace winger said, “Chelsea are different because they like their holding midfielders to be ball playing. Kante has broken into that team under Tuchel as a ball player with Kovacic or Jorginho. I don’t see where he would fit in there.”

“Manchester United is a different kettle of fish, you go back to Pogba in the Euros and Kante doing his running for him and Pogba having the licence to get on the ball and spray passes left, right and centre. He’d need a player like that alongside him.”

Currently, Rice is proving to be an important member of the English national side at UEFA Euro 2020, with the Three Lions in the quarter-finals, where they will take on Czech Republic. Following the culmination of the month-long extravaganza, Rice is likely to be a subject of a transfer battle between the who’s who of Premier League.

Having said that, it will be interesting to see if Manchester United can prevail in the race to sign the 22-year-old, who is touted to be a better fit at Old Trafford. However, the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and even Liverpool might have their say in this transfer saga in the coming weeks.

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