Manchester United are interested in signing Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka who will be moved on by the German giants if they sign West Ham captain Declan Rice.
Arsenal are reportedly willing to break their transfer record to pay £90million to West Ham and offer Rice £300,000-a-week. Rice is their number one priority, but the Gunners will face plenty of competition for his services – with United and Bayern emerging as major contenders.
Rice, 24, held talks with Bayern chiefs last month, as manager Thomas Tuchel hopes to make him his new midfield linchpin. The England international's priority is captaining West Ham in their Europa Conference League final against Italian side Fiorentina on Wednesday.
However, Rice is clear that he wants to leave the East London club this summer and with his contract expiring in the summer of 2024, the Hammers will likely look to cash in. Boss David Moyes has already appeared to confirm a move is likely for his captain this year.
"He'll be a British transfer record if he ever leaves West Ham," he said. When quizzed further on Rice's price tag, Moyes reaffirmed: "There's a lot of talk about it and when you see what's going about for the prices, I think Dec will be blowing that out of the water, that's for sure, when it comes around."
Last month, the Scot admitted that there was a "good chance" of Rice leaving for pastures new come the summer. "We honestly hope he stays," Moyes added. "There are plans that we have Dec here but we're also fully aware there is a good chance we won't have him."
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A report in Sky Germany claims that part of Bayern’s plans to sign Rice would include moving on Goretzka. While United are interested in signing the West Ham star themselves, the report adds that they could instead turn to the German international as an alternative.
The former Schalke midfielder was substituted off in Bayern’s final game of the campaign having only been introduced onto the pitch earlier in the second half. Tuchel apologised to the player for his strategic move, but it is a clear indicator over how his future at the club is perceived.
United are likely to be undergoing major squad restructuring this summer and while additions in central midfield are not the priority, there are question marks over the futures of Fred and Scott McTominay, with new additions likely.
