Video has emerged showing Ralf Rangnick telling a Manchester United fan he is dreaming over signing West Ham star Declan Rice.
West Ham fans have had to endure two years of almost incessant speculation about Rice leaving with Man United usually high up the list of clubs mentioned as a possible destination.
West Ham’s talismanic midfielder has established himself as one of – if not the – best all round midfielders in Europe over the last two years for club and country.
When West Ham fans heard Rice was going to be interviewed for Man United legend Gary Neville’s The Overlap, they feared it would only serve to add to the relentless stream of stories linking their star man with a move away. And they were right.
Top players make headlines and that has certainly been the case for West Ham star Rice over the last couple of years.
The midfielder has been linked with Chelsea for a number of years having left the Blues for West Ham when he was released as a 14-year-old.
But for West Ham fans one week it’s Chelsea being linked, the next week it’s Manchester City.
As one of the biggest clubs in world football, Man United have always been in the conversation too.
And with so much debate over the Red Devils’s midfield, the inevitable Rice links emerge.
Hammers fans are not daft. They can see a clear pattern emerging regarding a concerted effort by influential former Man United players with regards a move to unsettle and lure Rice to Old Trafford.
Whether it is Rio Ferdinand pushing for Rice to leave the club that gave him his head in professional football for the one that provided the silverware.
Or Neville and his pointed questions on The Overlap.
Another former Man United star, Wes Brown, also stuck his oar in over a Manchester United move for Rice last week.
Well now Ralf Rangnick, the man who will have a big bearing on Man United’s transfer policy and decisions over the next two years – even if he does not remain manager – has had his say on a move for West Ham star Rice.
And it appears to be good news for David Moyes and West Ham and bad news for excited Man United supporters.
Video shows Ralf Rangnick telling Manchester United fan he is dreaming over signing West Ham star Declan Rice
That’s after video emerged showing Rangnick telling a Man United fan he is dreaming over signing Rice and two other top stars, Erling Haaland and Jules Kounde.
The video, posted on social media by Man United Zone, shows a fan asking Rangnick if the club will be signing West Ham midfielder Rice, Dortmund striker Haaland and Sevilla defender Kounde in the summer.
“What are you dreaming?” was Rangnick’s response to a chorus of laughter from gathered Man United supporters.
At least someone is being realistic about the situation.
If anyone wants Rice they are going to have to pay top dollar for him. Just ask Moyes who has said “it will take Bank of England and Bank of Scotland money” to get his star man.
You would hope this puts all the Rice to Man United talk to bed. Chance would be a fine thing.
Let’s hope we can somehow beat Man United to that dream fourth spot and render the whole conversation futile.