Exclusive – Manchester United are leading a group of top Premier League clubs showing interest in West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice ahead of the summer transfer window, but the Hammers are waiting until the end of the season to make a decision on their future.
Rice is one of the best and most important players in a much improved West Ham side this season and is expected to be a start for England in the delayed Euro 2020 final tournament.
Rice is an important starter in England Sebastian Frej / MB Media / Getty Images
90min understands that Manchester United has revived his interest in Rice in recent months and believes that he can fill a hole in the defensive midfield and also fill in the midfield if needed.
The Old Trafford club are extremely impressed with Rice’s significant development and development this season, although they are not the only side keeping an eye on the 22-year-old, as Liverpool, Manchester City and boys’ team Chelsea are also watching him closely.
United and West Ham have already had talks for some time about the future of Jesse Lingard, whose loan deal at London Stadium does not include a predetermined call option. Lingard may be offered in exchange for Rice, while the names of Nemanja Matic and Phil Jones have also come up in talks between the two clubs.
Man Utd could offer Jesse Lingard to West Ham in the exchange Pool / Getty Images
Chelsea fought back over rice last summer because West Ham were not prepared to sell at any price at the time. The East London club were later thought to want up to £ 90m for him, although 90 minutes revealed in January there was a chance his valuation could drop to £ 50m due to the coronavirus pandemic’s economic impact on West Ham’s economy and the need for cash lift.
But things have evolved since then. In January, West Ham kept pace with the top clubs and there was a glimmer of hope of qualifying for some form of European football next season. But now with only a few weeks left of the season, they are still good in the mix and are even within touching distance of the top four and a possible Champions League place.
A ruling on whether they are prepared to sell rice this summer will depend on where the hammers end up, as they do not want to let their big names leave if they play at Europe’s top table and have tentatively also contacted Rice over a new deal.
West Ham will refuse to sell rice if they qualify for the Champions League | Mike Hewitt / Getty Images
The player’s father acts as his adviser and is in constant contact with West Ham over his son’s future, which as already mentioned could actually include a new deal in the capital depending on how the rest of the 2020/21 campaign goes.
Rice is currently awaiting test results on a knee injury. The early signs are that he will be absent for about four weeks, although there are fears that the problem could potentially jeopardize his participation in Euro 2020.
For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!
