Current West Ham loanee Jesse Lingard could be used as part of a transfer offer from Manchester United for Declan Rice according to a report from Eurosport.
Lingard’s arrival and subsequent impact with the Hammers have brought about plenty of speculation over where his permanent future may lie in the summer.
Meanwhile, Rice is reportedly on the radar of the Old Trafford club following another season packed with development from the 22-year-old.
The report outlines Manchester United’s minimum £20m price tag on Lingard, who has scored three goals in five outings for the east Londoners, whilst claiming the Irons would demand ‘at least £50m’ for Rice.
Unsurprisingly, it’s suggested Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side could offer the 28-year-old attacking midfielder as a makeweight in any attempt to take West Ham’s ever-present star to the North West.
There remains a potential sting in the tail for West Ham’s pursuit of Lingard, with Leicester City also keen on taking the former England favourite to the King Power Stadium.
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This has to be a non-starter from a Hammers perspective.
Signing Lingard should remain a priority given his performances thus far, however, involving the club’s prized asset and devaluing his monetary worth would make little sense.
In an ideal world, the Irons would retain Rice for the duration of his career, but should the time come to sell it is imperative West Ham receive the premium fee for the England ace and if that means waiting until the financial landscape is brighter, then so be it.
