MANCHESTER UNITED are set to have no rivals in the race to sign Declan Rice this summer, according to reports.

The West Ham star has enjoyed another brilliant season, coming thirdin this season's FWA Footballer of the Year award.

Rice, 23, has plenty of admirers, but West Ham's huge asking price has reportedly put a lot of teams off.

According to ESPN, Man United want to take advantage of other clubs' reluctance to pay more than £100million for Rice to secure his signature this summer.

Chelsea would love to re-sign Rice, who they released as a teenager, but their ownership situation complicates matters.

Even when a takeover is completed, the Blues will likely have to prioritise moving for a new defender and striker.

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Manchester City, meanwhile, will focus on sealing a deal for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland.

And Liverpool will look at cheaper options – with Jude Bellingham a target for 2023.

Tottenham and Arsenal won't have the funds to swoop for Rice, leaving United in pole position.

The Red Devils feel that Rice can be their "modern day Paul Ince" – with their legendary former star having arrived from Upton Park in 1989.

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United believe that Rice can add "tenacity, determination and leadership" to their side.

After their disappointing season this time out, the 20-time champions will have to convince Rice that he should move to Old Trafford – rather than wait for a better to move to present itself.

Rice is believed to earn around £62,000-a-week on a deal that possesses two more years – with the Hammers having the option to extend it by another.

Earlier this year he revealed his career goals to Gary Neville, saying: "The main one for me is that I don’t want to have a career where I’ve not won anything.

“I’ve grown up seeing all these top players win all the big trophies, like yourself, winning the Premier League so many times and the Champions League.

“Me as a football fan, and also as a player, I want to win the best stuff.

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“I want to win the Premier League, I want to lift that trophy.

“I want to win the Champions League, the FA Cups, the League Cups, even stuff with England, I want to win it all."

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