Ferdinand urges West Ham star Rice to ‘wait a few years’ before moving to Man Utd

Declan Rice should “wait a few years” to see what Erik ten Hag does at Man Utd before deciding if he wants to move there, according to Anton Ferdinand.

Off the back of his impressive performances for England at Euro 2020, Rice has been one of West Ham’s best players again this season with the club being in the mix for a Champions League spot for most of the season.

The Hammers have just fallen away a bit now with Arsenal or Tottenham likely to pick up the final Champions League qualification place but David Moyes are still in a Europa League semi final.

Rice and Toney feature in an XI of Premier League stars ready to make the step up

Rice has been linked with Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool over the past few months with at least one of those clubs expected to make a bid this summer.

Man Utd have been particularly heavily linked but Ferdinand has advised Rice to wait and see the impact of new manager Ten Hag before deciding whether he wants to join the Red Devils, who are currently just one place above West Ham in the Premier League.

“Manchester United isn’t the place to go right now,” Ferdinand told The Sun. “They’re going through a massive transitional period.

“For me personally, if I’m Rice, Man Utd is not a place that I’d be going. I’d wait a few years and see what Ten Hag does. Whether he can implement what he did at Ajax at 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. You’re challenging to get into Europe. 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 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.”

Ferdinand added: “Me personally, I’d rather stay [than join Manchester United]. But if it was one of the teams that were fighting for the league, and they came up with the money, it would be hard for West Ham to keep him.

“Like I said, if he did go, as fans we’d appreciate what he has done for the club. He’d always be loved and classed as a legend.

“And if we got £100m-plus for him and it went back into the playing squad, then we can’t grumble.”