Andy Cole warns Manchester United to avoid West Ham's £150m Declan Rice for transfer alternative

Andy Cole thinks Manchester United should attempt to sign Jude Bellingham instead of Declan Rice this summer.

The Manchester Evening News understands signing a defensive midfielder to address the lack of balance in the centre of the pitch is United's priority in the coming months. United have needed a specialist holding midfielder for quite some time now.

Rice has admirers at Old Trafford, but West Ham continue to insist they won't sell their prized asset for anything less than a sizeable transfer fee, with David Moyes remaining consistent with his £100m valuation of the player, which he recently suggested could actually rise to around £150m. Rice is contracted at West Ham until 2024 and the London club are reluctant to sell him.

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Cole was asked about the reports linking Rice to United, but he prefers Borussia Dortmund's Bellingham to the West Ham star.

"£150m for a holding midfield player? That's a lot of money," Cole told Sky Sports

"Not sure how many goals he's going to get you from that position. We were just talking, if the opportunity comes about when Rice is available in the summer and you had Bellingham come available, who would you spend your £150m on?

"Personally, I would go with Bellingham, he's 18 years of age and he goes that way, that way [points up and down], he creates chances, he scores goals. For such a young man, his ability is absolutely frightening. Bellingham has something extra, just energy."

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