Manchester United ‘could make counter-offer’ in potential Jesse Lingard swap deal

Man Utd: Solskjaer hints at future role for Lingard

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Manchester United could enquire about Declan Rice if West Ham try and sign Jesse Lingard, according to reports. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted any new signings at Old Trafford will be a ‘bonus’ after snapping up Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane so far. But, despite that stance, the Red Devils remain open to further acquisitions.

Manchester United have signed three players so far this summer as they look to win the Premier League title.

Tom Heaton was the first to arrive, with the veteran returning to Old Trafford over a decade after he was allowed to leave.

United then spent £73million on landing Sancho, in a deal that’s been four years in the making.

And the Red Devils have managed to prise Raphael Varane away from Real Madrid, unveiling the 28-year-old before their 5-1 battering of Leeds.

Despite that, however, they’re not done yet.

And the Telegraph say that, if West Ham try and sign Lingard, United may enquire about Rice being included in a possible swap deal.

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Rice is unhappy at the Hammers for slapping a £100million price tag on him, a fee that’s put him beyond the reach of both United and Chelsea.

The 22-year-old supposedly feels that, after shining for England at Euro 2020, he ‘needs to advance’ his club career.

Yet United aren’t the only club who admire the West Ham star.

Chelsea are also in the mix, despite Frank Lampard being denied Rice’s signing last summer.

And Manchester City could even make a move when they lose Fernandinho, who is primed to become a free agent at the end of the campaign.

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Rice has turned down two contract offers at West Ham that involve significant wage increases.

But the Hammers are sticking to their stance that he’s not for sale, and only a fee close to £100m can force them to change their mind.

Speaking last month, meanwhile, former United star Paul Parker urged Solskjaer to sign Rice.

“If you’re going to talk about impact [of transfers], I think he could maybe be the most important one and could make the difference in a really-good partnership compared to an average one,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“The way he plays, the authority he plays with, he nicks balls off people’s toes, he very rarely gets booked.

“United don’t really have anyone like that, the only one is ageing, Nemanja Matic, there’s no-one else in that role who can play.

“You can through Fred into the mix and he can go and do a job but he isn’t disciplined enough to do it.

“Scott McTominay isn’t a Manchester United midfielder player, if you’re looking to win things consistently, he’s not the player to play in a holding role because he doesn’t know how to play in that role.

“At this moment in time, he’s not ready for that but Declan Rice is.

“He’s young, he’s emerging and he’s already an old head on young shoulders. He’s absolutely the person to do that.

“If you look for someone abroad, you have to worry about them settling into the Premier League.

“Rice can do the job sitting in front and breaking up play.

“What he can do as well is get forward into the box, he can change the game by opening his legs up and running with the ball.

“I’ve seen him play a lot at West Ham and I’ve seen enough of him to know that he can do the job.

“As well as that, if you’re in a little bit of trouble, he can go and do a really good job at centre-half as well.”

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