According to The Sun, West Ham’s Declan Rice is expected to leave the London Stadium this summer, and it appears that one of the Premier League’s top clubs is unable to pursue him, writes the WHZ.
The report states that Arsenal is considered the frontrunner to secure the services of the West Ham midfielder, despite having an initial bid of £90 million rejected. However, Manchester City is lurking in the background, hoping to hijack the deal.
On the other hand, Manchester United is unable to enter the race for Rice, much to the frustration of manager Erik Ten Hag, who sees the midfielder as a perfect signing. The ongoing takeover saga at the club is restricting spending, as the Glazers deliberate over the details of the potential sale and whether they wish to proceed. If the sale does go through, Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani is favored to take control of Manchester United. However, the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test, which typically takes around ten days to complete, could further delay any transfer activity at the club for at least another two weeks.
Rice has attracted interest from several top clubs, including Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and now Manchester United. This level of interest is undoubtedly flattering for the West Ham captain, and it’s understandable why he would be eager to join one of these footballing giants. However, it seems that Manchester United may not be a realistic option for him at the moment.
If Manchester United were able to make a move for Rice, it would certainly impact his decision-making process. As of now, Arsenal is reportedly his preferred destination, with Manchester City’s midfield already packed with talent, making a guaranteed starting position uncertain, and their style of play potentially not suiting Rice’s strengths. However, if Manchester United were to express interest, given their stature and the need for a top-class midfielder, it could be a perfect fit for the player who recently won the Conference League.