Erik ten Hag set for Manchester United ‘war chest’ to sign Declan Rice from West Ham
Manchester United are set to hand Erik ten Hag a transfer “war chest” to sign West Ham midfielder Declan Rice in the summer, according to The Telegraph.
The newspaper reports that the Old Trafford-bound Dutchman will have “substantial funds” made available to him.
It is understood that West Ham star Rice, 23, is on Man United’s radar, as well as Tottenham’s Harry Kane.
However, The Telegraph claims that “there is an acceptance at [Old Trafford] that either deal could be very difficult to do”.
As quoted by The Telegraph, a source at Manchester United has said: “We’re pretty clear on who we want and why and we’ve had conversations with them. When the manager is named it’s a conversation with them to say: ‘Here are our options and recommendations and these are the reasons why. We’ve done the work’.”
Tense summer
West Ham will no doubt dig in their heels if a club makes a move for Rice in the summer transfer window.
Why wouldn’t they?
Rice is our best player and there’s absolutely no way David Moyes, David Sullivan, David Gold and Daniel Kretinsky can agree to sell the England midfielder for anything short of £100million.
Man United are crying out for a player like Rice and have been for several years. If they want to sign the Hammers star, they’re going to have to throw everything they have at it.
Ten Hag has a massive job at Old Trafford in the summer because the Man United squad is very poor.
As it stands, West Ham are better.
Moyes’ men are sixth in the league, ahead of the seventh-placed Red Devils on goal difference in the race for European football next season.
A lot can happen in the coming months and we are worried about losing Rice.
However, if he’s going to go, it’s got to be in a situation that benefits West Ham massively.
In other West Ham news, Alan Brazil and Gabby Agbonlahor moot a “shock” striker signing at the London Stadium.
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