Former Liverpool and Tottenham striker Peter Crouch says it ‘makes sense’ for Manchester United to use midfielder Jesse Lingard in a part-exchange deal to sign West Ham United star Declan Rice this summer.
Lingard has scored three times in four appearances for the Hammers since he completed a loan move to east London from Old Trafford in January.
The midfielder is surplus to requirements at the Theatre of Dreams and West Ham are already looking to make his move to the London Stadium a permanent one, given his impressive form under David Moyes.
It’s unclear what United would seek for Lingard in the summer transfer window but given the financial implications placed on clubs during the pandemic, part-exchange deals have become more appealing.
Rice was keen on moving to Chelsea last summer and Frank Lampard repeatedly lobbied his board to sign the England midfielder.
However, the Blues have since cooled their interest since Lampard’s departure which has left the door ajar for United to swoop in.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen on signing a new defensive midfielder and it was put to Crouch in his Daily Mail column that the club should use West Ham’s interest in Lingard to sign Rice, which he says would be a wise move.
‘I love Declan Rice,’ Crouch told the Daily Mail.
‘I have got a few friends who are West Ham fans and they want the club to break the bank, make him club captain and do all that it takes to keep him there for the next 15 years. He’s a brilliant player and could play for any of the top sides.
‘Your suggestion makes sense for United. Lingard needs to get away as his time at Old Trafford is up, while Rice is the kind of player United need to add. Would West Ham do that deal? I’m not so sure. We’ll see what happens.’
United’s budget this summer will be determined by where the club finish this season, with Solskjaer on course for consecutive top four finishes.
The club have failed to qualify for the Champions League in back-to-back seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
Solskjaer is keen to sign a right winger, a central midfielder and a centre-back with what could be a budget of around £150m.
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