Dimitar Berbatov has warned Manchester United against signing long-term target Declan Rice ahead of an important summer transfer window.
The 24-year-old is set to be sold by the Hammers at the end of the current campaign because he has refused to sign a contract extension with the east London team.
Rice is the main summer transfer target for Arsenal, who are certain they can get him before Chelsea, who has been his long-term admirer. United are also interested in Rice and may make another offer after providing £100 million for him last summer.
West Ham manager David Moyes has earlier mentioned that Rice will allegedly “blow the British transfer record out of the water,” and he will surely cost a huge sum for any club.
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However, former United striker Berbatov is against the idea of signing the English star, and he has straightforwardly warned the club about this deal. As reported by the Metro, he said:
“It all comes down to what the manager wants and how he sees the team in his head. Declan and Casemiro play in the same position, but the main difference between them is that one of them is 24 years old and the other is 30 years old.”
“One is slowly going towards the end of their career and the other is not even in their prime yet and is producing football of great quality. Of course, clubs are going to be after Declan Rice and the main thing that Declan will want from a new club is the promise that he’s going to play.”
“If he went to Manchester United then he’s going to want to play, demand to play and he’s not going to want to sit on the bench. He won’t go to Manchester United if he believes there’s a chance that he may be a backup to Casemiro.”
Although Rice would be a welcome addition to the Red Devils, he will need to compete with Casemiro for a starting spot, or he will have to adjust to a place on the bench. He may get a regular role in the starting XI if Erik ten Hag has options to use him alongside the Brazilian star.
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However, it is unlikely that United will splash such a huge sum of money as they are more focused on signing a star striker this summer.
