Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Man Utd activate £100m move for Prem standout with Ten Hag to create absolute dream partnership

Tottenham striker Harry Kane and West Ham midfielder Declan Rice

Manchester United have become serious contenders to sign Declan Rice from West Ham this summer, according to reports.

Rice has captained West Ham to the Europa Conference League final this season, but has ambitions to step up to the Champions League. It has been a disappointing domestic season for David Moyes’ side, who are now bracing themselves for the loss of their academy graduate a year before his contract is due to expire.

Rice is Arsenal’s top target for the summer, when he could replace Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.

However, an update from the Daily Mail has confirmed that Man Utd are now in contention to sign Rice.

It would cost around £100m for them to prise him away from West Ham, who still have the option to extend his contract into 2025.

Man Utd would also have to fend off competition from not only Arsenal, but Chelsea, where Rice used to be an academy player. That said, the Blues cannot offer Champions League football at this moment in time.

Hence, it could be a two-horse race between Man Utd and Arsenal for the 24-year-old.

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In terms of the former, Erik ten Hag wants one additional midfield reinforcement this summer, while Marcel Sabitzer is waiting to learn if Man Utd will keep him after his loan spell from Bayern Munich.

Casemiro is the current main defensive midfielder in Ten Hag’s squad. There have been some issues when he has been absent, though; besides, he was only ever a medium-term signing.

Ten Hag could have big plans for Rice in the long-term instead – which has led to the prospect of there being a dream match-up at Old Trafford next season.

Man Utd to make moves for Rice and Mount

Indeed, Man Utd are also currently considered the favourites to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea in what they hope will be a £55m move. Rice and Mount have been best friends since childhood.

They already line up alongside each other when on international duty for England, but the prospect of playing together week in, week out would be the stuff of dreams for them.

It could yet be at Chelsea, if the Blues can renew Mount’s contract and successfully sign Rice. But it now seems more likely that it could be up in Manchester.

Sky Sports News is also reporting that Man Utd want to sign Rice and Mount this summer – as well as their international captain, Harry Kane.

Approaching the final year of his contract with Tottenham, Kane is one of the main striker targets under consideration by Man Utd.

Despite the interest in the trio, though, Sky suggests it is unlikely that Man Utd will be able to sign all of them. Doing so would be a best-case scenario.

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