Gary Neville has already told Manchester United that Declan Rice would fix two of their problems

Gary Neville has already told Manchester United that signing Declan Rice would fix two glaring problems at Old Trafford.

Having finished behind only Manchester City in the Premier League last season, key figures in the Old Trafford boardroom issued a triple statement of intent; signing Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and returning five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

At that stage, though, they were unable to recruit a top-level defensive midfielder.

Manchester Evening News understands that task has, instead, been earmarked as a priority for this summer and Rice is still viewed as target number one in that regard.

That's despite concerns current club West Ham might dig their heels in over a valuation for the player.

Neville is among those to have waxed lyrical about the England international this season, but might United receive a bonus solution should they part with £100million or more for Rice?

Discussing the player with fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher earlier in the season, Neville said: "I think the development will be, at some point - and West Ham fans won't like me saying this - he will somehow have to transfer to a club that plays in the Champions League, where he plays in a midfield with high expectations, where teams are dropping deep every week and there will be a different ask of him.

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"I've always wondered whether he'd end up at a top club at centre-back just with the nature of the game.

"But he plays in central midfield for England at major tournaments and does well, so he can play central midfield - but I do think there may come a point where he could be a centre-back in one of the top teams.

"The demands on the players to be