West Ham United star Declan Rice is viewed as a good fit for several English Premier League clubs, including Manchester United.
As the January transfer window approaches, Rice has become one of the biggest names on the market. Though the midfield star’s contract with the Hammers runs until 2024, an array of clubs has already been keeping an eye on his situation.
Manchester United has looked at Rice as a potential signing in the past and may be eyeing him once again, Manchester Evening News reported. Ahead of a possible bid, the Red Devils are already backed to benefit from Rice.
“I think he’s better than Fred, I think he’s better than Scott McTominay,” former Wales striker John Harston recently told Stadium Astro of Rice. “[Bruno] Fernandes is outstanding, he’s been Manchester United’s best player in the last 12 months since they bought him. [Paul] Pogba, we’re not quite sure what Pogba is going to turn up – some weeks he’s great, others he is languishing and doesn’t look up to it. I think [Rice] would be a great signing for them.”
“I think (Manchester City manager) Pep Guardiola and (Manchester United manager) Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would love a Declan Rice,” he added. “I think he is better than those players.”
Declan Rice of West Ham United Photo: Getty Images | Chloe Knott – Danehouse
Aston Villa and Bayern Munich legend Alan Bruce McInally also heaped praise on the 21-year-old. In a recent talk with Footy Accumulators’ “The Group Chat” show, McInally assessed that Rice is above everybody else in the Premier League.
“[Rice] is the best young player in the Premier League by a shooting mile, he is absolutely unbelievable,” McInally said.
As for Rice’s possible landing spot in the next transfer windows, the 57-year-old tipped a number of big-spending clubs to consider making a hefty offer for the player he believes is as valuable as United’s past top prospect, Jadon Sancho.
“Talking about going back to Chelsea, I’m going to throw in [Manchester] City, [Manchester] United, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG and Juventus,” the former European top-flight striker pointed out. “That’s how good [Rice] he is, that’s where I think he has a chance of ending up as well.”
“Jadon Sancho, what was it they [Borussia Dortmund] wanted?” he emphasized. “Yes [€120 million] ($146 million), well, I’m saying minimum £118 million ($156 million) for Declan Rice for West Ham to even be interested in letting the boy go.”
Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund Photo: Getty Images | Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images