Former West Ham striker trolls Man Utd over Declan Rice transfer interest

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Former West Ham striker Frank McAvennie has suggested Declan Rice would be wrong to join Manchester United if his ambition is to win trophies.

Rice is a midfielder United have considered bidding for this summer but the England youngster virtually confirmed he is set to stay at the London Stadium last month.



West Ham tied Rice down to an improved five-and-a-half-year contract last December and the high regard in which he is held by club means United would likely have to pay big money to bring him to Old Trafford.

And McAvennie, who played for West Ham in the 1980s and 90s, doesn't believe it would be the right move for Rice to quit the Hammers in favour of a move to United.



"I wouldn't expect him to move on. I don't think he's ready for the big clubs yet, or so-called big ones," McAvennie told Love Sport Radio. "I think he's doing wonderful there [West Ham]. He started at centre-half and now he's a great foil for the captain Noble.



"I think West Ham have got some wonderful players in midfield like [Felipe] Anderson, [Andriy] Yarmolenko and [Manuel] Lanzini. I just think they've got firepower in midfield but they need someone up front, a figure that is going to take them forward.



"Rice sits there in the middle and he will be there for England and West Ham for many years, I'm hoping."

McAvennie added: "He doesn't have to go anywhere with the money West Ham pay their players now. If he wants to go to Man United for trophies, they might be a bigger club but they're not going to win any trophies in the foreseeable future."