Former Manchester United forward Louis Saha has revealed he would pick Declan Rice ahead of Frenkie de Jong to play in the Red Devils midfield.
The club have been linked with both de Jong and Rice, but it remains to be seen who they will go after when the transfer window reopens.
Erik ten Hag will have a massive midfield rebuild job to do as the trio of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Jesse Lingard will depart the club in the summer.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is another player who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, so it’s likely that the Red Devils will spend a lot of money to strengthen their midfield.
When asked about who would be a better option for Manchester United, Saha leaned towards Rice for his Premier League experience and overall quality compared to de Jong.
Saha told Lord Ping:
"De Jong hasn't played in the Premier League so he'll need time to adapt but what a talent. It's hard to pick. The West Ham captain is a brilliant prospect and very strong in the middle of the park. He's an asset defending and going forward.
"If I had to pick I'd go for Rice as he provides security and it would be easy for him to adapt because of his experience of playing many years in the Premier League."
Manchester United will need a player of Rice's defensive awareness
While de Jong is undoubtedly a sublime player, Manchester United perhaps need a bit of steel in their midfield after what has transpired this season.
Their defense has time and again been exposed as the likes of Fred and Scott McTominay have not been consistent enough.
As Saha said, Rice has the experience of playing in the Premier League and will provide good protection to the backline by sitting in front of the defense.
He doesn't shy away from going forward either, and his distribution is an underrated aspect of his game.
While de Jong would add more technical ability and better passing, Rice is perhaps exactly the player Manchester United's porous midfield needs.
dobklnosyz
0
Premiere league is tough and it needs tough guy. So rice is the man
dobklnosyz
1
Rice for me any day
tucacdlnsu
0
de jong better than rice far
bombkltz
0
this is away team next season I want for man United please..... so this is away deam team for next season
[image]
[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh] please pack your stuff and leave this app! you know nothing about the sport. [Sadtolook]
archangeraphael
1
You can use Maguire for swap deal for Rice
archangeraphael
0
Please try and Scout Brighton Lampty and Fernood Malacia please and Call back Ethan Laird
archangeraphael
0
Kevin De Jong is far more better than Your Rice bro
hemcprtz
0
pls let Maguire live the club west of money
hemcprtz
0
Rice is better
Puobdeknrt
1
rice is better
Wahblnopt
0
Manchester United can't pay huge price for Rice and Franklin is a very good player.
Jauabdmprt
0
rice is better
No
likbcdmrtu
0
we also can get Eriksen from Brentford
likbcdmrtu
1
what is maguire still doing there?
Pecbmnoty
0
De jong please
Yeuemnpz
0
this is away team next season I want for man United please..... so this is away deam team for next season
Saznopsuz
0
we don't need over hyped rice De Jong is better than rice Barcelona would have bought rice if they thought he was even average
toaadmoty
2
if Kante is available United should not look any other CDM
God is really wonderful bruh🤣😂 you've spoken about the player I always thought about ×MY_GHOST_PLAYER×
RajuMondal
0
mu next season team
Tacadery
1
bro if he his dear too pep, he will not let him off at that early time, he performed far better in dot to hang he ever did in city and man u bro, I don't say he his not good but he his fucking over hyped, look at Luis Diaz check out his goals and assist for Liverpool just in 5 month compare it too Sancho's in 10 month
man u need no order to say that on a person like jadon fast of its kind think about the midfield of man United and for Liverpool those are two different things as well as display perspective
Yutaeklmrs
2
de Jong is better than rice
Nasadmnosu
1
rice is better
Nasadmnosu
1
rice I better
picaluy
0
Definitely Rice he’s a fantastic player 👏🏻
Wopeimnr
0
Just because he is from yur country right
sahar isnt from England,his from France
bukdeknosy
1
Go for Djun, English players are over pay and they live up to the expectation of the fans on and off the field.
koyabipsz
0
learn from your mistake
Jeoabdeop
1
Just because he is from yur country right
fekbeoprs
1
Guys De Jong is way better than Rice....
potabeknry
1
Saha spot on. Rice definitely what United need. But, the price tag is scary. #Damn. It’d burn a deep hole in our pocket and transfer budget. If we can sell Henderson (£40m), Bailly (£25m), Bissaka (£15m), Jones (£10m), Martial (£20m). That’s a total of £110m. Five players for one player. Too bad. I hope the United hierarchy will learn that it’s very unwise to let players leave for free without making any money off them. Players like Matic, Mata, Lingard, Pogba, Cavani all walking off without any sale made off them. It’s downright unbelievable! Is Man Utd now a church (charity)?
Badandboujee
0
English players are always expensive than other country players. Agree?
logannasti
0
de jong will be a good fit for ten hag rebuilding man UTD
logannasti
1
bro de jong is better than rice
wisdomboy33
0
am a man utd fan's and I no England players are too overrated but it true rice is better than de Jong 4 what I have see rice can play 4 u as a CB if ur cb have injury but de Jong didn't have at strength rice is a very good defensive midfielder but d pug price of rice is too much
Neteimoty
0
rice is a better fit. he is stronger and bigger too
Peubltuz
1
they have come to scam us to do the same mistake we did on Maguire high price at end becomes flop I don't trust all this white boys
yonkmoprsz
0
Just get the two simple … nd offload all those bad midfielders they have
Rice is overpriced
KC_Ultra
0
Just get the two simple … nd offload all those bad midfielders they have
Vicsammy
1
Rice is too cost
Winziboy7
0
If we can have both no issue with that pls
cammptuz
4
Some players have the quality to adapt to any league with ease, and De Jong is one of them. De Jong far better than Rice as a midfielder
hohcikmru
2
de jong far better than rice
Wanaemotuy
2
rubbish,this is why manchester united can't buy quality players because the focus is on english players.look at fernandez he never played the epl but he adopted.
Yucdemotuy
0
Saha you are right rice is the best
peabelpruy
2
Rice 's price tag is very irritating me West ham United never won anything with Rice, of what has he that high quality? they must learn a lesson from Maguire story and Grealish story at Man City. I'm really fed up with English players at this generation
Yeddeoryz
3
Saha is hungry that's why he chose Rice ahead of De Jong
Cjaysports
0
we don't need any England over hyped player like grelish, Maguire, Sancho, wan bisaka and many other
Sancho chose to leave Pep tried to persuade him but his mind was made up. He didnt want to wait for his chance and wasn't ready to renew his contract.
AlameenMalami
0
Just like Barcelona are second best without Messi
At least we signed players and they help
layacmnsy
1
for u ,please man forget about Engish players
vosdenoruy
0
my dream team for next season.hopefully greenwood case would have been resolved before the start of the season