According to a report from the Daily Mail, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent over his personal scout Simon Wells to watch West Ham’s 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United last Friday in order to analyse potential January recruit Declan Rice – with these Red Devils supporters reacting in disdain to the news.
Rice, who has been linked with a January move to Old Trafford (per Bleacher Report) as United attempt to strengthen their midfield options, especially after Scott McTominay’s injury, could be deemed a potentially decent signing from Solskjaer’s perspective. In comparison to the manager’s preferred holding midfield partnership, Fred and McTominay, even with the latter sidelined, Rice has bettered them both in many defensive and passing aspects. The Englishman, while playing for a less dominant outfit, has amassed an impressive 87.9% pass success rate in the league whilst making an average 3.2 tackles per game in the centre of the park, as per WhoScored.com.
Another name on United’s midfield radar is Lille youngster Boubakary Soumare (per L’Equipe via the Sun), who some fans want in place of the Hammers midfielder – especially considering the 20-year-old has garnered a fantastic 90.2% pass success rate in Ligue 1 this campaign. Even though Soumare has somehow beaten Rice’s pass completion rate, the Englishman still reigns supreme in terms of tackling – potentially highlighting his defensive prowess.
Regardless, these Red Devils supporters feel that he is simply ‘overrated’ and not up to United’s calibre of midfield player – here’s what they had to say on Twitter.
Overrated. I dnt get the Declan rice hype, nothing special imo
— MartialFC (@MartialFC8) January 13, 2020
Rather Soumaré
— Thomas Capstick 🔰 (@cappaMUFC) January 13, 2020
NO.
— Calum (@UtdCalum) January 13, 2020
They gave us too much positivity in one day they had to take us right back to Earth
— Tяυsτ №¹-Yahya™ (@RealistYahz) January 13, 2020
Please tell me your not serious !
What is wrong with these people at United ?
There are players out there million times better than Rise in the same position!— Stev0_o85_🔰 (@O85Stev0) January 13, 2020
How on earth will Ole send a scout to watch declan rice, that player is too direct, someone I can scout and give you report right from 🇳🇬
Wasted effort!
If United don’t sign Bruno, Something terribly might happen to my Jersey!😊😊— Ogie Frank Jeffrey (@Ogiefrank) January 13, 2020
Would you take Declan Rice at United? Join the discussion by commenting below…
