West Ham star Declan Rice has been told he should join Arsenal instead of Manchester United this summer as the Gunners are more likely to challenge Manchester City.
City remain the best team in England, having won the Premier League and the FA Cup this season, and now have the chance to complete a historic treble when they face Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Although United made good progress in Erik ten Hag's first season in charge, winning the League Cup, reaching the FA Cup final and qualifying for the Champions League, Ally McCoist believes they remain "four or five players behind" their local rivals.
McCoist also believes Arsenal, who finished second in the league this season under Mikel Arteta, are a more attractive option for players like Rice who are wanted by both clubs. "If I'm Declan Rice and I'm weighing up my options, I'm probably thinking I'd rather go to Arsenal than Manchester United," he said on talkSPORT.
"I looked at Manchester United at the weekend, and I know they've won the League Cup, but they look as though they're four or five players behind Manchester City. I still think Arsenal are well behind Manchester City, but I think they've got the potential to get nearer to them quicker."
West Ham are said to value Rice at around £100m, with the England international also attracting interest from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. However, the player is though to be keen to continue plying his trade in the Premier League.
Speaking last month, West Ham boss David Moyes admitted there was a "good chance" that Rice would leave the club this summer. "We honestly hope he stays. We'd love for him to be a West Ham player but we are aware that might not be the case at the end of the season," Moyes said.
"So that's one of the scenarios around planning. There are plans that we have Dec here but we're also fully aware there is a good chance we won't have him." It comes after Rice spoke of his desire to play Champions League football, something both United and Arsenal can offer him.
"One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League," he said in December. "For the last two or three years I've been saying that. I've been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing.
"I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you've won and the biggest games you've played in."
