KEY POINTS

  • Manchester United is keen on pursuing West Ham United's Declan Rice
  • Southampton legend Jack Saville speculates Rice could take Man United to another level
  • West Ham is not interested in any bid for the midfield star

Manchester United could be looking at a transfer target who can intensify Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.

West Ham United star midfielder Declan Rice has been linked to a return to his boyhood club Chelsea for quite some time now. However, the Red Devils have recently rivaled the Blues in pursuit of one of the most sought-after prospects in the transfer market.

With Manchester United now reportedly plotting a swoop for Rice, Southampton legend and Givemesport pundit Jack Saville weighed in on the possible scenario should Solskjaer’s side managed to land the 22-year-old.

According to Saville, Manchester United’s current squad is already stacked as the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lidelof and Luke Shaw have all been in fine form. However, the addition of Rice would surely boost the club’s defense and attacking prowess.

"There are tentative signs that the United backline is growing in solidity, with the resurgence of Harry Maguire, the understated consistency of Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw's steady improvement all offering promise for the future,” Saville wrote. “Planting a midfield general of Rice's ilk in front of the back-four will only take the club to a new level.”

"Rice has completed more tackles (1.9) per game than any other United midfielder so far this season, while his return of 2.1 interceptions is superior to all of [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer's available options in the centre of the park,” the pundit added. "Add in his expansive range of passing for good measure and Rice looks like the colossal midfield general that United continue to crave.”

Solskjaer said it was the "worst front page" he'd ever seen
Solskjaer said it was the "worst front page" he'd ever seen AFP / Oli SCARFF

Rice was honed by Chelsea academy before he found a spot in West Ham’s first team. Due to his connections with the Blues, rumors swirl that Stamford Bridge is likely his next destination should the Hammers decide to let him go.

But according to West Ham manager David Moyes, neither Manchester United nor Chelsea has reached out to them with a concrete offer for his midfielder.

Furthermore, Moyes insists that they are not entertaining “any” bid for Rice from interested clubs.

"They're not true (rumors of a bid), we've had no contact from either of those clubs regarding Declan and we wouldn't want any anyway," Moyes recently told Amazon Prime. "He's doing great for us, he's a big leader now, he's taken a lot of the weight off Mark Noble.

“He's turning out to be a really good player but also a really good boy and good around the club."

Declan Rice of West Ham United
Declan Rice of West Ham United Getty Images | Chloe Knott - Danehouse