Manchester United Transfer News: Should they have Signed Declan Rice Last Summer?
Manchester United Transfer News: Erik ten Hag reflected on missing out on Declan Rice
The Man United manager Erik ten Hag was recently asked about whether his club missed out on potentially signing Declan Rice in the last summer transfer window when he was available amidst the fact of how well the midfielder has done at Arsenal since his move from West Ham United. The Premier League manager was quite balanced in his answer to the question as he hailed Rice but was quick to jump on the resources that he has available in his first-team squad.
Citing his reply, the Dutch manager expressed – “He’s (Declan Rice) a very good player and would have absolutely fitted here”. “But I’m not happy with Mason (Mason Mount), is that what you’re suggesting (to the reporter)”. Drawing similarities between Rice and Mount, he further went on to claim that – “I’m very happy with Mason and he is also a very robust player”.
The 54-year-old reflected upon the fact how “bad luck” the injury to Mason Mount has been and in a way was trying to suggest that it could have been a completely different season for the former Chelsea midfielder at the Red Devils if he had managed to stay fit for the longevity of it, considering the Premier League pedigree that he obtained during his stint at the Stamford Bridge in his previous four seasons while also remained injury-free for the most of it.
Despite ten Hag is not being completely admissive to the fact that United could have brought in Declan Rice last summer, the English midfielder might have proved to be a marquee signing for the Red Devils considering the fact that the Old-Trafford-based club has struggled recently, especially in the midfield area, and how effective Rice has been for their rivals Arsenal in their title run-in this season.
The midfield woes of Man United hit a new low with big-name players under-performing
With one of their senior and most reliable midfielders, Casemiro absolutely surrendering to Crystal Palace’s trail-blazing football at Selhurst Park in Man United’s last league outing, the concerns for the Red Devils keep piling on as the 2023-2024 top-flight season approaches its end. With Erik ten Hag’s side in danger of missing out on a potential European spot in the table, things have started to look quite gloomy for the English club.
When one looks at the other options that United possesses in the middle of the park, names like Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount, Sofyan Amrabat, and Kobbie Mainoo do pop out. But as a matter of fact, except for Mainoo, neither of these players has managed to consistently break into the starting eleven for the club this season, considering of either injury issues or not fitting in the manager’s plans.
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