'I've got a sneaky suspicion' - Rice backed to choose Man Utd over Arsenal

Stuart Telford

• 19 Jan 2023 08:20 GMT
• 3 min read

Declan Rice is continually linked with a transfer away from West Ham, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all seen as potential suitors for the England midfielder.

Rice is in a bit of a bind at West Ham. Grateful to the club for giving him his break in the game following his release by Chelsea as a teenager, he is also now an England regular, one who wants to win titles in his career.

Rice has admitted that much himself, and the Hammers currently find themselves 18th in the Premier League, only above rock-bottom Southampton on goal-difference.

READ: Declan Rice to Arsenal: Why even a €150m deal will be difficult

Arsenal are the latest club to have been linked with a move for the midfielder, the Gunners keen to bolster in an area that begins to look pretty light after Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka, but talkSPORT's Simon Jordan thinks a move to Man Utd is more likely.

Jordan: 'sneaky suspicion'

"I've got a sneaky suspicion," said the former Crystal Palace owner. "If Manchester United keeps going the way they are - win a cup, even win the league title, that he could end up occupying the quarter-back role at Manchester United."

United have been resurgent under Erik ten Hag this season, the only team left in four competitions and up to third in the Premier League table, level on points with champions Manchester City, after a recent five-game winning run.

READ: 'Casemiro wipes the floor with Thomas Partey'

Whether they need Rice is up for debate, with Casemiro shining in his position since his €80 million arrival from Real Madrid last summer. Scott McTominay could be available for transfer, though, with Newcastle interested, and Rice and Casemiro could form a fine double pivot.

West Ham manager David Moyes has previously intimated that prospective buyers would have to break the €100m barrier for Rice.

The 24-year-old has a contract until June 2024 with a club option of one more at London Stadium. He is currently valued at €66.1m by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm.