West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice has been told to avoid Manchester United 'at all costs' amid interest from the club.
Rice has been a long term transfer target for the Reds with United making the defensive midfield role a key priority for the summer. However, their hopes of signing the player had looked to be scuppered when West Ham manager David Moyes placed a £150m price tag on the England international.
Earlier this month, United were given new-found hope of signing the 23-year-old when reports emerged that Rice had rejected three contract offers from the Hammers. With the Reds now seemingly back in the race for the midfielder, Rice has received a warning from brother of United legend Rio and former Hammers defender, Anton Ferdinand.
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He explained to The Sun: "Man United isn't the place to go right now. They're going through a massive transitional period.
"For me personally, if I'm Rice, Man United is not a place that I'd be going. I'd wait a few years and see what [Erik] Ten Hag does.
"Whether he can implement what he did at Ajax at Man United and get them looking more like a team that can challenge. Otherwise, what's the point in leaving West Ham to go somewhere you're not even challenging for a title."
Ferdinand went on to argue that a move to the Theatre of Dreams would not be seen as progression for his career. "You're challenging to get into Europe," he continued.
"That's what West Ham are doing - challenging to get into the Champions League. We've got something to build on.
"He'd be in the same place at Man United and all it would come down to is the stature of the football club. As a footballer myself, I'm not going somewhere just because it's a bigger club.
"You've got everything at a club where you're loved and you're the main man. At Man United, you'll be one of many.
"Whereas, you can stay at West Ham and challenge for Europe and be the main man."
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