Robbie Savage tips West Ham’s Declan Rice for Manchester United move, predicts new chasers

West Ham star Declan Rice should make a move to Manchester United because it is a “great time” to do so according to Robbie Savage.

The price tag for the England star has been set at a massive £150million by David Moyes, but Savage has cited the examples of Kevin Keegan and N’Golo Kante to say it’s time for him to leave the Hammers

The Red Devils are expected to announce the appointment of Ajax manager Erik ten Hag as the new boss at Old Trafford for next season, and the former United youth player thinks the Dutchman’s first move should be for Rice, although he sees competition materialising from Europe.

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Savage wrote in his Daily Mirror column: “This is a great time to join Manchester United. Surely, after five years without a trophy, the only way is up for them.

“If I were in new United boss Erik Ten Hag’s shoes, I would want to rebuild my team around a player of Rice’s stature. And he would still be joining one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

After assessing the position of Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea he added: “Realistically, those would be Rice’s best options, although it wouldn’t surprise me if Europe’s big guns joined the chase.”

Presumptuous

It has been assumed for some years now that the revival of Man United was just around the corner.

Current interim boss Ralf Rangnick was supposed to be the tactical brain who could improve their fortunes but that hasn’t really happened.

So it would be sensible of Rice to stop and think about whether it would really be better than his current set up.

West Ham

It doesn’t feel like a stretch any more to suggest that if the Irons could properly strengthen they could be competing on a level with the likes of the red side of Manchester.

And with Europa League glory now in touching distance, and entry to the Champions League with it, the departure of the midfield star is no foregone conclusion.

It seems like it is going to take a bidding war between multiple giants to prize the 23-year-old out of east London.

And with reports suggesting attentions at Old Trafford have turned towards Rice’s England partner Kalvin Phillips (Manchester Evening News), Savage might be getting ahead of himself.

In other West Ham news, one key first team player has bought a house elsewhere as he prepares for a potential exit.

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