Man Utd's Declan Rice boost, David Moyes slip-up and glaring obstacle to £150m transfer

Manchester United may have been presented with the perfect opportunity to sign Declan Rice - at the worst possible time in their recent history.

If there were any doubts regarding Rice’s standing as one of Europe’s best midfield players, they have been permanently erased thanks to another stunning season for West Ham. While some of his England team-mates have struggled to replicate their Euro 2020 standards for their club sides, Rice has arguably increased them even further.

It’s no surprise then that the 23-year-old is the first name on almost every United supporter’s lips when it comes to potential summer transfer targets. Central midfield is arguably the area that incoming Erik ten Hag will need to address as his first priority.

Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic are both set to leave at the end of the season, while the McFred partnership of Scott McTominay and Brazilian midfielder Fred is one that should be consigned to a history book anyone of a United persuasion would leave gathering dust.

Ten Hag will be tasked with arresting a slump which set in when Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and bar a few temporary speed bumps, has rarely threatened to slow down since. Rice has the credentials to be the centrepiece of a new Manchester United team, as they look to finally find a direction post-Ferguson.

And 2022, on paper at least, looks an opportune time to pounce for the Hammers skipper. ESPN report that Manchester City are set to focus their attentions on Erling Haaland, Liverpool on cheaper alternatives and Chelsea on finding a new owner - and so from a Premier League point of view at least, the path appears a clear one.

But unfortunately for Old Trafford bosses, the opportunity has come about with United at their