Gary Neville predicts transfer inquest over Declan Rice

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 18 Feb 2024 10:51 GMT
• 3 min read

Gary Neville thinks inbound Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth will hold a transfer inquest with the cub missing out on players such as Declan Rice in recent seasons.

United are set to acquire Ashworth from Newcastle, in one of the first major moves following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority investment.

Ashworth has an existing relationship with INEOS' Head of Sport, Sir Dave Brailsford, and a glowing reputation following his work with the Magpies, and Brighton and England before that.

His first task will be to tighten up United's transfer business. Last season they had the most expensive squad ever assembled but only had an EFL Cup win and third place finish in the Premier League to show for it.

Declan Rice was a player the Red Devils were previously interested in before he completed his £100 million move to Arsenal last summer. He has since thrived in the Gunners' midfield, and Neville thinks it is an example of his former club dropping the ball.

Diaz and Rice, missed opportunities

"Do you know what I think [Ashworth] will do? He'll look back at analysis because he's that type of guy," the long-time right-back said on Sky Sports' The Overlap podcast. "He'll definitely look at who has signed off on the players that have been signed over the past two or three years.

"…He'll definitely look at things like the players they missed out on, and what was said about those players.

"Say, Luis Diaz goes to Liverpool, or Declan Rice goes to Arsenal, they'll look at what they were we saying about Declan Rice, because that historically was a Manchester player, Declan Rice."

Instead of Rice, United signed an ageing Casemiro from Real Madrid for £80m to plug a gap in central midfield. Although he impressed in his first season at Old Trafford, the 31-year-old's performances have since slowed down.