Manchester United are reportedly eyeing up a potential move for West Ham captain Declan Rice.
The 24-year-old has been the subject of interest from both Arsenal and Manchester City after Hammers owner David Sullivan indicated he would be allowed to leave. Arsenal have seen two bids knocked back, with West Ham holding out for a fee in the region of £100m, while City's interest may hinge on whether captain Ilkay Gundogan leaves this summer.
Now, though, United appear primed to enter the race. Reports suggest a player-plus-cash offer could be lodged for Rice, who was previously linked with the club during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's time in charge.
According to The Telegraph, Harry Maguire or Scott McTominay could be included in a part-exchange deal. Centre-back Maguire has been mentioned in connection with the Hammers in the past, and appears surplus to requirements at Old Trafford after losing his starting place to Lisandro Martinez.
McTominay, meanwhile, is among those to have been linked with West Ham as a replacement for Rice were he to join Arsenal. The Scotland international midfielder is under contract at Old Trafford until 2025, but was in and out of the team last season under Erik ten Hag.
Arsenal still appears to be Rice's preference, though the Gunners have yet to match West Ham's demands on a fee. Their most recent offer is understood to have been worth an initial £75m plus £15m in add-ons.
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Rice, who joined West Ham from Chelsea's academy as a teenager, took over as club captain following Mark Noble's retirement. He led the London side to Europa Conference League glory last season, after which owner Sullivan laid out the state of play over the midfielder's future.
"I think it has to be," Sullivan told talkSPORT when asked if the final against Fiorentina was Rice's last game for the club. "We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going. You can't ask for a man who has committed more to us this season. In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement - or several replacements.
"It's not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down. It's cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go. You can't keep a player who doesn't want to be there."
While away on World Cup duty with England midway through the 2022-23 season, Rice spoke of his desire to play Champions League football. Arsenal secured their spot in next season's edition of the competition with their second-place finish in the league, and will be joined there by United.
