'Dear me, no' - Declan Rice told to avoid 'gamble' Manchester United transfer

Declan Rice has been urged to snub Manchester United if he wants to play regular Champions League football.

The West Ham midfielder has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs, with Manchester United reportedly leading the way. The Hammers are reportedly holding out for £150m, which would be a British record.

United know they must bring in an elite defensive midfielder before the start of next season and are targeting the England star, who sat out Three Lions training on Tuesday ahead of their upcoming friendlies. However, former Scotland international Ally McCoist has told Rice to avoid an Old Trafford switch and claims he should consider a move to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

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When asked on talkSPORT whether United should be the club Rice moves to next, he replied: “Is it his destination? Dear me… no. Do you know something, I think he’s probably one of these lads that, should West Ham be in the Champions League or they’d won the (Europa League) title, he’d be quite happy where he is.

“But he obviously wants to play at the top level and that’s the challenge. He’s playing internationally, obviously, in the England squad but I just think he’s got a better chance at doing it (playing regular Champions League football) at a club like Man City."

McCoist said moving to United, who are in the process of searching for their next permanent manager, would be a risk. He continued: “You go to Manchester United, it’s a gamble. He’s not going to go to Manchester United without the promise of at least four of five coming in to make them a force again.”

The Rangers legend revealed that former West Ham manager Harry Redknapp had suggested to him