Jamie Carragher has urged Manchester United to snub Chelsea star Mason Mount in the summer transfer window and hijack Arsenal's bid to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice. The former Liverpool defender believes Rice would be a better solution for United compared to Mount.
Chelsea are open to selling the Cobham graduate this summer but have set a £75million asking price. Erik ten Hag's side are said to have already agreed personal terms with Mount, but are unwilling to meet the Blues' valuation and are hoping to strike a deal nearer the £50million mark.
football.london reported earlier this year that the Gunners are prioritising a move for Rice this summer as Mikel Arteta looks to revamp his midfield options. West Ham chairman David Sullivan confirmed earlier this month that the 24-year-old will be sold in an interview with talkSPORT.
Sullivan said: "I think it has to be [Rice's final game for West Ham] - we promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.
"You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season. In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements.
"It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down. It’s cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there."
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Arsenal are thought to be preparing an opening offer in the region of £92million for Rice, but Carragher believes United should hijack the deal and sign the Hammers' star over Mount this summer. "Mason Mount an upgrade on [Christian] Eriksen in terms of where he plays," Carragher told Metro.
"Going back to Declan Rice, United are one of the few teams at the top who don’t play 4-3-3. It’s usually two midfielders with Bruno Fernandes.
"Declan Rice and Mason Mount, they are very different players and it shouldn’t be one or the other but when you look at what Manchester United have got right now, I actually think Declan Rice would be a better fit for them. A lot more expensive of course.
"I do think he [Mount] is a good player and I like him, I wanted Liverpool to get him. Lots of coaches have picked him and like him. There is already a good player in there but Declan Rice would suit United more than Mason Mount in terms of how they set up."
Arsenal are among the clubs monitoring Mount's situation at Stamford Bridge, but United are leading the race for his signature. Both players are good friends and it seems they are likely to be playing for different clubs next season - rather than joining up at Chelsea which many believed to be a possibility just 12 months ago.
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