United chasing Rice

MANCHESTER UNITED want West Ham starlet Declan Rice. The Daily Star Sunday can reveal the Old Trafford club have officially declared their interest in Rice, who is involved in a contract dispute with the Hammers.

Boss Jose Mourinho is keen on Rice, 19 (left) who is regarded as one of the most promising centre-backs in the country – and that is a problem position for United.

The defender has also demonstrated his versatility by excelling in the Premier League as a holding midfielder.

Rice, rated at £15million, is on £3k a week, a long way below top-flight pay standards. And the Hammers have had

an improved deal, believed to be £20,000-a-week, rejected.

West Ham want to keep Rice, who has also been linked with Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton and Germany’s Borussia Dortmund.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Manchester City, in the market for a defensive midfielder to eventually succeed Fernandinho, also showed interest.

But at the moment, the strongest interest is coming from City’s neighbours United.

Mourinho, meanwhile, was at the Belgium v Iceland match three days ago, which linked him again with Spurs central defender Toby Alderweireld, 29.

But the UEFA Nations League fixture also gave the United boss the opportunity to run the rule over another Belgium player, Monaco midfielder Youri Tielemans, 21, for whom the French club want £25million.