Dimitar Berbatov sends Manchester United transfer warning to West Ham midfielder Declan Rice

Former striker Dimitar Berbatov believes Casemiro's importance at Manchester United could put West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice off sealing a move to Old Trafford amid ongoing speculation about his future.

United, who are currently third in the Premier League table, five points shy of the summit, are understood to be already planning to recruit a younger central-midfielder ahead of next season. United strengthened their midfield options with the additions of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro last summer and drafted Marcel Sabitzer in on loan last month as emergency cover.

The Reds, though, are planning to bring in a younger and more dynamic midfielder in the summer and still hold an interest in Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund sensation Jude Bellingham. They are also occasionally being linked with Hammers ace Rice, who is widely expected to leave the London Stadium later this year.

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Rice, who has established himself as one of the best defensive-midfielders in the Premier League in recent seasons, has a high ceiling and is regularly linked with members of the division's traditional 'big six'. United are often among those most frequently linked with signing the England international but Berbatov, who played for the Reds between 2008 and 2012, believes Rice could struggle to earn the amount of minutes he would expect because of Casemiro operating in a similar role.

"It all comes down to what the manager wants and how he sees the team in his head," Berbatov told Betfred. "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