Manchester United are keen to bring in 19-year-old defensive midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham United, according to reports.
The teenager has started nine of West Ham’s 12 Premier League matches this season but reportedly only earns £3,000 per week at the London Stadium.
Rice’s contract with the East London club is also due to expire in the summer of 2019, meaning he would be available on a free transfer at the end of next season should he not put pen to paper over a new deal before then.
The Hammers are believed to have offered the teenager a deal worth around £20,000 per week but that the deal has been rejected by Rice.
According to the Daily Star, Jose Mourinho is keen to bring Declan Rice to Manchester United. Given that Nemanja Matic is 30 years old, the Republic of Ireland international could be seen as his long-term replacement. Matic’s experience would also be good for the youngster’s development.
Declan Rice was actually a centre-back as a youth and could certainly be moved back into that position at a later date. However, he’s not looked so great in aerial duels as a senior which is perhaps why Manuel Pellegrini is playing him in front of the back four instead. And that West Ham spent a lot of money on two centre-backs over the summer.
Given that Rice is offering peanuts and has reportedly rejected the club’s latest offer of a contract, the United hierarchy must be confident in agreeing a deal for him if we really want to bring him to Old Trafford.
