As Manchester United's players trudged off at the London Stadium, dejected and defeated, Declan Rice smiled through a round of media interviews and gave his shirt to a young fan.
The England international had delivered a midfield masterclass, eclipsing anyone else on the pitch. Much has been made of Casemiro's arrival at Old Trafford but Rice overshadowed the decorated Brazilian on Sunday night, producing a performance that had it all.
The Hammers captain led by example, rallied the troops and married attacking invention with defensive solidity and midfield bite in his side's fully deserved 1-0 win. United will surely have taken note.
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With Jude Bellingham set for Real Madrid, United's search for an additional midfielder to help take this team to the next level will move elsewhere. While a number nine is priority number one this summer, adding a central player is a close second.
United have options and Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes are inked in starters, but with Christian Eriksen unlikely to play 50 matches a season and Fred and Scott McTominay not the long-term solution, reinforcements are required. And you'd be hard-pressed to find a better one than Rice.
Throw in the bonus of a contract expiring in a little over 12 months and United might be able to find a deal at a price attractive enough to not take away from their striker search even if reports suggest the Hammers will seek £100million for his services. Rice is an established England international and has the ability and intelligence to play as a sitting midfielder or a box-to-box general, while his creativity is often overlooked. All this a 24.
His manager David Moyes said after the Hammers beat United: “You’ve seen him play for England, you’ve seen the abilities he uses in recovering the ball and getting around people. He’s great across the ground, very quick. That’s why he is probably the best English midfield player around and that is why he is going to be extremely expensive if anybody comes calling.”
Moyes is right. He won't come cheap but there is an acceptance that this is the summer for player and club to part ways given his contract situation and desire to test himself at the highest level. He'll have no shortage of suitors, and United would face competition for his signature, but he can give them everything they want.
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