Declan Rice transfer: Erik ten Hag handed unwanted news as top Man Utd target makes position clear

Manchester United will reportedly have to look elsewhere in their quest to sign a new central midfielder this summer after links to Declan Rice were firmly slammed shut.

The Red Devils are preparing for what is likely going to be one of their busiest summers for many a year. With Erik ten Hag set to take charge, the club needs to make wholesale changes to their playing staff. Indeed, a report has revealed that as many as 12 first-team players could depart Old Trafford.

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Ruben Neves top target for Ten Hag and Manchester United

Clearly the Dutchman has a massive task on his hands. United have badly under-performed this season and look highly unlikely to qualify for the Champions League.

They have fallen a long way behind the standards set by Manchester City and Liverpool too. That was perhaps best emphasised by the Merseysiders overcoming them by an aggregate scoreline of 9-0 this season.

As such, work will begin immediately over ways in which United can close that gap and ultimately, overhaul their rivals.

And it will clearly take a lot of money to turn the juggernaut around and get them challenging for silverware again.

First up, Ten Hag will likely need to bring in several new attackers. Decisions will need to be made over Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo. On the subject of the Portuguese, Roy Keane has already advised United of what to do over his future.

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