Aside from recruiting a new top-class centre-forward, it would appear that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is also keen to secure ‘another leading midfielder‘ ahead of next season, having already strengthened with the signing of Casemiro last summer.
According to The Mirror, a possible target for the Red Devils could well be West Ham United captain Declan Rice, with the Old Trafford giants – along with Premier League rivals Chelsea – said to be ‘monitoring’ the 24-year-old’s situation.
Although the suggestion is that Arsenal are leading the way for the Englishman’s signature at present, there will no doubt be an almighty scramble among the division’s elite clubs to win the race, particularly amid claims that he could now be worth around £60m.
With Irons manager David Moyes having previously valued the 39-cap sensation at a fee of more than £150m, that potential drop in asking price comes with the player having just 17 months remaining on his existing deal at the London Stadium.
The signing of the former Chelsea academy asset could help to take United to “another level”, with Rice having arguably been the “best central midfielder in the country” in recent times, according to Paul Parker.
Securing the services of such a highly-coveted star who has racked up 221 games for West Ham across all fronts could well allow Ten Hag the chance to offload the peripheral figure of Scott McTominay, with the Scotland international having been attracting notable interest of late.
Although it would appear that the 26-year-old is unlikely to be sold this month, his long-term future at the Theatre of Dreams does appear somewhat uncertain, having started just one league game since the 6-3 drubbing at the hands of Manchester City in early October.
Having been described as “not good enough” by club legend Roy Keane, the United academy graduate has failed to truly win over fans and pundits alike since emerging into the first team during Jose Mourinho’s tenure, with it set to be no real surprise if he is moved on in the near future.
The difference in quality with Rice is laid bare by the fact that the West Ham captain has averaged 2.3 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game from his 20 league appearances this season, while McTominay has averaged just 1.3 and 0.6 respectively for the same two metrics from his 15 outings.
Equally, Rice’s ball-winning brilliance is showcased by his ranking in the top 7% in Europe’s big five leagues among those in his position for interceptions made, while the current Red Devils dud ranks in the bottom 45% in that regard.
The Three Lions star also comes out on top for his composure in possession, as he ranks in the top 6% for pass completion and averages 1.3 key passes per game this term, while McTominay ranks in just the top 46% for pass completion and averages only 0.2 key passes per 90.
That should indicate the potential improvement that Ten Hag could make to his midfield by snapping up the £60k-per-week “force of nature” – as lauded by journalist Rob Blanchette – from the London Stadium.
