Manchester United are reportedly leading the race to sign Declan Rice this summer.
The highly-rated West Ham midfielder left Chelsea’s youth academy in 2013 but was heavily linked with a return to Stamford Bridge while Frank Lampard was in charge (via Sky Sports).
Not only has Rice gone on to become a regular in West Ham’s line-up, he’s an England international and, unless he gets injured the season, probably a certainty to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for the European Championships.
Rice’s form this season has helped West Ham climb up the table.
With David Moyes in charge, West Ham are sitting fourth in the Premier League after overtaking reigning champions Liverpool last week.
Moyes won’t want to lose one of his key players in the summer but it seems inevitable that he will leave for a bigger club.
And the latest on Rice involves Manchester United and Liverpool.
According to The Transfer Window podcast, which features journalist Duncan Castles and Ian McGarry, Rice has become a target for United and Liverpool.
McGarry said: “He’s no longer on the transfer list of recruitment possibilities for the Stamford Bridge club but, has certainly aroused the interest of both Liverpool and Manchester United.
“Both of whom have expressed interest to Rice’s agent, as we understand and have asked to be informed of any offers made for the England international.
“It’s our information that United at this moment in time are the greater in terms of being interested in Rice, out of the two clubs. That’s also based upon the possibility of players leaving Old Trafford however.
“Clearly what’s been going on over the last few weeks has been a rotational system where Fred, Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic have been involved – playing certain games and being left out of certain games.
“It’s our information that one of those players more or less needs to be shipped out in order for Rice to join Manchester United, both on the basis of fee, wages and contract because at this moment in time the financial situation at the club is such that they’re prefer not to add another expensive player to their 25-man squad.
“They would instead prefer to at least dispose of one of those players in order to make it more feasible for them to sign Rice.”
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