Manchester United's dream midfielder might have given the go ahead for Erik ten Hag to sign him

Declan Rice may have just issued a thinly-veiled 'come and get me' plea. Now is the time for Erik ten Hag and Manchester United to sit up and take notice.

United have a host of stars thoroughly impressing at the World Cup, as Ten Hag will surely be delighted with the performances on display in Qatar. Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford have all recently picked up Man of the Match awards, as they give cause for optimism upon their return to Old Trafford.

After the opening Premier League defeats to Brighton and Brentford, United have gone on to win eight of their following 12 matches. They find themselves just three points off Tottenham in the Champions League places, with a game in hand on Antonio Conte's side.

United know that achieving a top four finish will open doors for them in the transfer window, as the allure of playing in Europe's premier competition will allow them to chase after the best players in the world. The priority for the club is no doubt a centre-forward, yet there are further positions that need strengthening.

Christian Eriksen and Casemiro both arrived in the summer and the pair have elevated United's midfield to another level. Yet a cynical outlook would point to the fact that they are in their 30s.

Rice has been a name linked with United for a while now, as the midfielder continues to put in performances of the highest quality for both West Ham and England. Now it seems the 24-year-old is ready for a fresh challenge.

During a press conference ahead of the round of 16 clash against Senegal on Sunday, Rice was asked for his thoughts on playing for a big club.

He said: "Yeah, 100 per cent, I think for the last two, three years I've been saying that I've been playing consistently well for the club. And I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends who play in the Champions League, winning the big trophies.

"You only get one career. At the end of your career, you want to look back on what you've won and the biggest games you've played in. I'm really ambitious and I really want to do that."

Although United might not be in the Champions League this season, they only appear to be heading in one direction under Ten Hag. If the club can keep up their momentum, the philosophy, that the Dutchman is instilling at Old Trafford and the project that is in place would surely be a very enticing option for Rice.

West Ham currently sit just a solitary point above the relegation zone. With just 18 months left on his contract, should Ten Hag convince United to stump up the money needed to convince David Moyes' side to sell, Rice certainly seems to be open to a move.