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Manchester United have reportedly made Declan Rice a top priority this summer, but is it a huge mistake?
What’s the story?
According to The Irish Independent, the Red Devils are “ready to break the bank” for Rice.
The West Ham youngster is perhaps viewed as a replacement for Ander Herrera, who the report claims could leave Old Trafford this summer, along with the likes of Juan Mata and Antonio Valencia.
The Hammers are expected to demand a fee in excess of £50m for Rice, who signed a new contract in December, per BBC.
Worryingly though, other reports have suggested Manchester City are tracking Rice, so is this the Alexis Sanchez and Fred deals all over again?
Who is your club’s worst ever January signing? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have picked theirs in the video below and they didn’t disappoint…
Sanchez… Fred… Rice?
When the Red Devils signed Sanchez last January, fans were delighted to get one over on Pep Guardiola, who was heavily linked with the Chilean throughout the winter transfer window.
The Cityzens also chased Fred, who was dubbed as a long-term replacement for Fernandinho, but United got the better of that deal too… or did they?
Sanchez and Fred have both been colossal flops at Old Trafford, as the club appears to have made a habit out of trying so hard to one-up their rivals that they overpay for a player who is not really good enough anyway.
With all due respect to Rice, the youngster has just one good season under his belt, and there is no telling how he would cope with the pressure of moving to the biggest club in the country for a huge fee. Is he that much of an upgrade on Herrera and Nemanja Matic?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ageing midfield does need new blood, but the priority should be a ready-made starting calibre player in their prime, not another attempt to pip City to a big deal as was the case with Sanchez, or to a rising star as was the case with Fred and potentially Rice.
Manchester United should think twice before splashing a huge sum of Ole’s summer budget on a relatively unproven youngster, regardless of Guardiola’s apparent interest.
