Ex-Leeds United striker Noel Whelan believes that Manchester United could launch a record-breaking move to sign Declan Rice in January.
Speaking to Football Insider about the England international, Whelan admits he is a big admirer of the player and believes he will go to the very top.
I think Declan Rice could be the next player who goes for a Premier League record fee. We have just seen Harry Maguire go for £80million and I wouldn’t be surprised if Rice goes for more than that, above £90million, even.
He’s young, English, hugely talented and is such a long way from his peak. You look at a team like Man United, who need a midfield anchorman and you can see it happening.
They don’t mind paying over the odds for a player, as we saw in the summer. I could see them looking to get Rice in January.
With Rice going from strength to strength already this season, will the Hammers be able to keep him beyond the January window?
Read West Ham verdict
Losing Rice in January could become increasingly likely if he continues to impress at the rate he has been doing.
However, the Hammers can take hope from the big spending that Manchester United have already done recently.
Given that Manchester City signed Rodri over the summer, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men look the most likely to come in for him.
Having only just spent £80 million on Harry Maguire, they’ll be fully aware that signing Rice will mean breaking the bank once more.
Rice is proving himself to be a top-class English midfielder, but a deal of that magnitude may have to wait until the summer given the sheer amount of money that will need to be involved.
West Ham will be under no pressure to sell during the new year, while the club will be fully aware that his stock will continue to rise over the second half of the season.
