Champions League hero Declan Rice fancied Manchester United transfer

SportFootballDeclan RiceRice has earned plaudits from across Europe since joining Arsenal but the midfielder could have joined United two years earlierDeclan Rice was interested in a transfer to Manchester United before joining Arsenal.(Image: Justin Tallis – Pool/Getty Images)Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand told viewers they were watching Declan Rice put himself into “another bracket” of footballers after his back-to-back player of the match performances against Real Madrid.The 26-year-old has been ever-present for Arsenal since joining for a club-record £105million in July 2023, earning plaudits for his footballing ability beyond the traditional six role he played at West Ham.Now, Rice is being recognised as one of Europe’s premium midfielders, able to improve any team across the continent. But, not too long ago, the England international fancied a transfer to Manchester United before ultimately swapping east London for north.Read More: Bruno Fernandes explains why Manchester United made major change to pre-match routineRead More:As the 2020/21 season drew to a close, while away on international duty a then-22-year-old Rice was quizzing United players about the club’s set-up and how he might adjust if he made the move to Manchester.That season, West Ham would eventually earn their highest-ever Premier League finish, sixth, under David Moyes while Ole Gunnar Solskjær steered United to second place in the league and lost the Europa League final on penalties against Villarreal.Former-United boss Moyes had previously claimed Rice was worth “far more” than £100million earlier that season when asked about potential interest in the player.However, The Manchester Evening News reported the midfielder had asked United players about the club during the England national team’s World Cup qualifiers.The intrigue may have been planned by on-loan United player Jesse Lingard, who played 16 times in the league for West Ham that season, scoring nine goals in scintillating form.Lingard was a part of the England squad for the qualifiers and it is understood that Rice spoke with Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw about the club.At the time, Solskjær and the Old Trafford hierarchy were in the market for a midfielder amid the possibility of Paul Pogba leaving. The Frenchman would ultimately stay in Manchester for one more season before returning to Juventus.United’s squad had a bloated midfield department with Fred, Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic and Donny van de Beek in the first team squad alongside the aforementioned Pogba which made the possibility of signing Declan Rice near-impossible without shifting deadwood.Despite the apparent interest from both sides, the transfer would never materialise with United completing one of the most star-studded transfer windows in Premier League history by bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford alongside Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane for a combined £120million.The high-profile signings left little room for any desired target.Meanwhile, Rice would stay with West Ham for another two years, eventually lifting the UEFA Conference League with the Hammers before moving to Arsenal where he is now recognised as one of Europe’s elite. But, how different things could have been if Ole got his man.