RIO FERDINAND has urged Manchester United to sign Declan Rice this summer.
And the West Ham ace has also been compared to iconic ex-Hammer Michael Carrick.
Rice, 22, shone for Ferdinand’s old club West Ham last season, captaining them in most games as they finished sixth – their highest league finish this millennium – and secured Europa League football.
The holding midfielder has also cemented himself in the England starting XI – playing 90 minutes in the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 opener win against Croatia on Sunday.
And Ferdinand – who came through West Ham’s academy – risked the wrath of the Irons’ faithful by imploring the Red Devils to sign him this summer.
The 42-year-old held a Twitter Q&A on Monday and was asked: “What No 6 should Man Utd buy this summer?”
And the former England ace simply wrote: “Welcome @_DeclanRice.”
United are reportedly planning to bid for Rice when the transfer window opens to test the East Londoners’ resolve though the club have made it clear they will not entertain offers of less than £100million.
Rice has also said how excited he is to play in Europe with the Hammers next season and it is understood he will not push for a move.
Ferdinand is not Rice’s only admirer with former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara drawing comparisons between him and ex-Man Utd and West Ham midfielder Carrick.
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The 39-year-old is now one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first team coaching staff at Old Trafford having spent 12 years there as a player.
But – like Ferdinand – Carrick is also a product of West Ham’s famous Academy of Football having spent seven years there between 1997 and 2004.
He broke into the first team but left for Tottenham after a season in the Championship having failed to help West Ham regain their Premier League status at the first time of asking in the 2003-04 campaign.
Speaking about Rice’s assured performance for England against Croatia, O’Hara told TalkSPORT: “Clever footballer.
“He reminds me a lot of Michael Carrick and the way he plays.
“When you have players like that in the team you’re just comfortable.
‘CALMING INFLUENCE’
“As a midfielder you know you’ve got someone alongside you or behind you who can protect the ball.
“You know as a centre-half you can give him the ball under pressure and you know he’s not going to give it away.
“You need calming influences in your team and Declan Rice is that.
“The more players you get like that in your side who are all comfortable on the ball, [the better].”
Rice is best mates with Mason Mount and spent eight years as a schoolboy at Chelsea before moving to West Ham in 2014.
Ferdinand also made headlines earlier this week for trolling Sir Alex Ferguson after Scotland lost their Euro 2020 opener 2-0 to Czech Republic at Hampden Park on Monday.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
