Manchester United transfer dilemma could reveal Erik ten Hag's first Old Trafford ambition

The dilemma facing Manchester United in the transfer market this summer can perhaps be summed up with one simple question: Declan Rice or Kalvin Phillips?

United have a holding midfielder right at the top of their wishlist and it is two England teammates who are the most likely to fill a void that will become a chasm once Nemanja Matic takes his leave.

It is Phillips that United are working on at the moment. The 26-year-old could yet see his price drop further if Leeds are relegated from the Premier League.

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The Leeds fan might be reluctant to incur the wrath of his own by joining a club they detest, but plenty have crossed the Pennines before him and his case would be stronger if the alternative was a season in the Championship.

But while Phillips might be the cheaper option, the other, perhaps more important question, is who is better? You would get very few neutrals who push the Yorkshireman's credentials ahead of Rice in that regard.

The West Ham midfielder is three years younger than Phillips but is already a level above. He has essentially taken over the captaincy at the Hammers this season and the quality of his performances continues to rise.

Phillips is a good Premier League midfielder, but Rice looks ready to step into the truly elite category. He can be a world-class performer and has outgrown East London.

If we are to assess which player would offer the most improvement to United then it has to be Rice. But if Phillips might be able for around £50m, it would be at least double that for Rice.

That is the quandary facing United in a window where Ralf Rangnick recently suggested they could need as many as 10 new players. That might have been an