Four alternatives to Rice for Man Utd to pursue this summer

FT Desk

• Updated: 7 Apr 2022 22:02 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United will need to make some huge changes in the summer transfer window if they're to get back to the top next season.

The club are expected to appoint a new full-time manager in the coming months and thre will undoubtedly be a number of big signings that follow him in the door at Old Trafford.

According to the Evening Standard, Man Utd's top transfer targets remain Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane and West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.

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However, while Kane may be a smart signing for the club, it seems almost certain that Man Utd would have to pay over the odds to sign Rice this year.

"If you are interested, well, it will be north of that [£100m]. One hundred was cheap last summer," said West Ham manager David Moyes when he was last asked about offer for Rice. "One hundred and fifty million just now would be minimum but he is not for sale".

Fortunately for the Red Devils, there are a number of impressive midfielders in the game today and most would cost considerably less than Rice.

Gavi - Barcelona

If man Utd want to sign an alternative to Rice then they'll have to find a young player that is showing as much promise as the West Ham star and they may well find that in Barcelona prospect Gavi.

Although the Spain international has only just begun his career at the Catalan giants, he's already shown a remarkable ability to play as a complete box-to-box talent and would fit into the same role as Rice with little difficulty.

What's more, the 17-year-old star only has a contract until 2023 and unless Barca can convince him to sign a new one soon, Man Utd may be able to pounce this summer.

Jude Bellingham - Dortmund

Rather than waste their money on Rice, Man Utd would perhaps be better putting their money towards the player that will likely be rivaling the West Ham star for his spot in the England team for the next five or 10 years.

Although Jude Bellingham was once on the Old Trafford club’s radar when he was just a prospect at Birmingham City, Man Utd can no longer deny or ignore the player he is quickly becoming.

And while the Dortmund star may end up costing as much as Rice this summer or the year after that, he offers just as much promise and could potentially end up being a better box-to-box talent than his West Ham counterpart.

Youri Tielemans - Leicester City

Another potential transfer target that would likely make far more sense for Man Utd would be Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans.

Like Rice, Tielemans has been lighting up the Premier League with his ability to defend counter attacks and spark his own side’s attacks into life with relative ease. However, unlike Rice, the Belgium international is unlikely to come with an inflated price tag due to the fact that he isn’t English.

With his contract set to expire in 2023 and no extension in sight, Man Utd could end up signing the midfielder for much less than Rice would likely cost even though he’s just as good a player.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - Tottenham

While he may not be the most remarkable name to be linked with a move to Man Utd, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg is one of the most underrated box-to-box talents in the Premier League and undoubtedly a player that could do a good job in the Old Trafford midfield.

Although the Denmark international only made the move to Spurs in 2020, he may already be proving too good for the side as they struggle for another top four finish.

Even with Daniel Levy’s negotiating skills taken into account, Hojbjerg would still cost nowhere near as much as Rice but offer just as much talent in the middle of the pitch.