Richard Keys: £500,000-a-week Declan Rice contract would seal West Ham United exit amid Manchester United talk
Richard Keys says Manchester United should offer Declan Rice £500,000-a-week to quit West Ham and join them before the transfer window closes.
Rice, 23, has been long linked with a move to Old Trafford [Sky Sports] but Man United’s need for reinforcements this summer is growing after a terrible start to the campaign.
Speaking about Erik ten Hag’s imminent move for Real Madrid’s Casemiro, the discussion turned towards Man United signing England star Rice instead.
After Nigel de Jong said Man United should try to sign Rice instead of Casemiro in a clip on the beIN SPORTS Twitter account on Sunday (21 August), Keys asked: “What would Manchester United have to pay Rice to turn his head in the way that you’re suggesting?”
Andy Gray replied saying £250,000-a-week, leading to Keys replying: “I think more. I think it’s half-a-million-a-week.
“That might have just made him sit up. Half-a-million-a-week.”
Gray said: “Pay it. Pay it.
“He’s young, you are getting a sell-on [value].
“If it doesn’t work, you can sell Declan Rice and get all of your money back.”
No chance
Man United could offer Rice all the money in the world, it’s pointless if they don’t offer West Ham what they want for their star midfielder.
And with how bad both sides have started this season, it would be kind of a sideways move for Rice in the battle against relegation from the Premier League.
But in all seriousness, £500,000-a-week is stupid.
Keys is just saying that for the sake of saying something outrageous when Gray’s shout of £250,000-a-week is a lot more grounded and realistic.
It’s head-turning money anyway.
If Man United come in with a big-money offer to Rice, they’ll capture his attention because it’s Man United.
However, they’ll struggle to do that right now because they don’t look as though they’re capable of competing in European football any time soon.
West Hams season has started badly and Rice might be concerned about that.
But if we don’t get any better over the coming months, we might have to start accepting that this is his final year at the London Stadium.