Newcastle United are hoping they can be in the race to sign Declan Rice from West Ham this summer, but Stan Collymore does not think a move to St James’ Park is the midfielder’s best option.
He is set to leave West Ham this summer, with Hammers chairman David Sullivan admitting that they will sell the England international ahead of next season.
The Magpies have been linked, with Eddie Howe’s side keen to hold talks with the 24-year-old. That is very exciting for Toon fans, as Rice is the type of player who can take our already impressive midfield to the next level.
Despite interest from Newcastle, it currently looks like Arsenal are the favourites to sign Rice. He is reportedly keen to stay in London, which is not good news for a Newcastle side that obviously plays in the North East.
However, former Liverpool forward Collymore actually thinks that the best decision Rice can make is to join Manchester United.
Manchester United is Declan Rice’s ‘best option’
Collymore has spoke to Caught Offside about Rice’s future, amid speculation that he could join Arsenal. However, the 52-year-old thinks Man United is his ‘best option’.
“I think if he’s looking at the slightly longer term, whether it be Jim Ratcliffe or whomever, Man United are going to have more money to spend and for longer,” he said.
“They’ll have more money to spend on better players to put around him, and although the options are quite poor at the moment with Fred, McTominay and an ageing Christian Eriksen, if he thinks about the next two, three, four years, from my perspective, that’s Declan’s best option for a longer period.”
Big decision on the horizon for Rice
It is a huge summer for Rice, who needs to decide where is the best place to take his career to the next level. He needs to be regularly challenging for honours and competing in the Champions League.
He can get the latter at Newcastle, Arsenal and Man United next season, with all three sides qualifying for Europe’s elite competition.
Out of the three teams, it feels like Newcastle is the least likely to sign him. Money will be the issue, with Rice likely commanding a higher wage than the Magpies are prepared to offer.
That leaves Man United and Arsenal, and the latter have the advantage that they are in London, which means Rice won’t have to relocate.
Collymore might believe that Man United is the best option for Rice, but it feels like Arsenal is his most probable destination.
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