KEY POINTS

  • West Ham's Declan Rice has agreed to terms with Manchester United
  • Rice is expected to cost around $116 million, but both clubs should discuss a deal first
  • The 22-year-old has shied away from discussing his transfer link-ups

Manchester United may have already taken a step closer in signing longtime target and West Ham United’ Declan Rice.

Following reports stating that West Ham has failed to convince Rice to sign a contract extension, one of the midfielder’s top suitors Manchester United quickly made its move.

While Rice will spend the rest of the current season with West Ham, he has already “accepted an offer” from Manchester United and “personal terms have been agreed” as well, Caught Offside reported, citing Todo Fichajes.

International Business Times could not independently verify this information.

If the report is to be accurate, the Red Devils are eyeing to bring in Rice next summer.

However, the report added that while the player has agreed to a transfer, Manchester United and West Ham should still have to discuss to formally close a deal.

As for the transfer fee, the report said that Rice’s move is expected to cost around the region of €100 million ($116 million), a figure believed to be not too overwhelming for Manchester United.

Declan Rice is key to West Ham's survival bid
Declan Rice is key to West Ham's survival bid POOL / Michael Regan

West Ham is set to take on Rapid Wien for a Europa League match on Thursday, September 30 and as expected, Rice was once again asked about his transfer link-ups during a pre-match press conference.

According to Rice, he and West Ham have talked about the issue “in the past,” but he doesn’t need to say anything about his commitment to the Hammers as “everyone knows” about it.

"We've spoken about it lots in the past," Rice told Sky Sports. "Everyone knows how I feel about West Ham and how I feel about playing under the manager and what it's like playing with the group of players I'm playing with.”

The 22-year-old further stressed that he is just focused on winning games with West Ham at the moment, especially now that he got the armband on.

"I feel you can see in my performances nothing's up, nothing's concerning me,” he pointed out. “I'm playing with a smile on my face, I'm going out there, I'm leading the team. I think you could see a difference if I wasn't going out there and giving 100 percent but every time I'm putting on the shirt - I've got the armband on at the moment - my only objective is to go out there and give everything for the club and get three points.”

"With tomorrow night on the horizon, the only thought on my mind is to go out there and put on a performance for the fans and get the win."

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