Next month, Declan Rice might turn into the primary English participant to carry a European Cup since Reece James, Ben Chillwell, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham clasped palms on the Champions League trophy in 2021.
He might turn into the primary English captain to contact continental silverware since Jordan Henderson lifted the Champions League in 2019 ought to West Ham see off Fiorentina within the Europa Conference League remaining.
Rice could possibly be enjoying for the large prize itself subsequent season, the midfielder eager to play for a Champions League membership. The query is whether or not that shall be at Manchester United or not.
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The Reds are one level away from securing a high 4 place and Erik ten Hag has mentioned there has already been heightened switch curiosity within the membership. West Ham boss David Moyes has conceded he’s planning for Rice’s attainable exit.
Ten Hag is after a younger midfielder in addition to a striker this summer season and up to date performances could have made Rice extra interesting to him. Back in February, Graeme Souness was vital of the 24-year-old’s means to discover the online.
“I’d want more goals from him,” the previous Liverpool nice mentioned. “In the trendy recreation with the way in which the pitches are, for central midfield gamers coming onto issues they have no excuses.
“The ball’s running smoothly, it’s coming to you on a carpet and he’s scored one goal this year, Declan Rice.”
He has picked up the tempo within the months since, firing in 5 objectives together with his objective for England towards Italy in March’s Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Three objectives have are available his final 9 outings, not dangerous for a defensive midfielder. He is just one behind Casemiro when it comes to membership objectives this season and is seven years youthful.
One extra objective for Rice and will probably be probably the most prolific scoring season of his profession up to now. Goals usually are not going to be a key a part of his recreation going ahead, given he performs because the pivot.
But Ten Hag could just like the foundations already there to construct on and maybe take over the mantle from the ageing Casemiro. Whether a switch will occur or not stays to be seen.
Rice is probably going to fetch a hefty charge and Ten Hag just isn’t certain what his switch price range is for subsequent season amid the continuing takeover course of that’s but to conclude.
The Three Lions star has proven a degree of management since taking the Hammers armband and Ten Hag will like that, the Dutchman regularly underlining the accountability his gamers should shoulder themselves.
The Dutchman additionally needs his aspect to rating extra objectives subsequent season, and is aiming to herald a brand new centre-forward in the summertime switch window with Tottenham’s Harry Kane the highest goal.
But he will even be hoping different members of his squad can chip in, as proof following the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Following that win, the United boss mentioned: “A stable efficiency. A properly deserved win. The solely criticism I might say, it had to be greater, the rating. It had to be 3-0 or 4-0. We missed a whole lot of probabilities there.
“You need to rating and end and kill the sport within the early moments. That’s all the time necessary. In huge video games you do not create so many probabilities, so you have got to rating them.
“We need more goalscorers and I’m happy with Antony. He scored a goal, gave an assist. His start in the game wasn’t that good… But after he came into the game and he was continually a threat for the opponent.”
It’s clear United want extra goalscorers, as Ten hag says, and the previous few months could have made Rice that bit extra interesting for Ten Hag this summer season – significantly if he continues to discover the again of the online.
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