5 players Manchester United want to sign in January

#2 Declan Rice (West Ham United)

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

Declan Rice is a 19-year-old centre-back who plays for West Ham United in the Premier League. He has also featured for the Republic of Ireland's national team, having made three appearances since his debut in March 2018.

His inclusion on this list might come as a surprise to some, but the bottom line is that Rice is a player with a great deal of potential. He also fits the mould of a young defender who plays regularly for his club - in the Premier League, no less - which is exactly what United are after. They want to build for the long-term, and so Declan Rice would be an ideal option for that concept.

Rice may only be 19 years old, but he's already got a market value of £18m, according to Transfermarkt. It's only going to increase from here, too, so any interested clubs should act now before they regret not getting him whilst he's still a bargain.

Rice began his development with Chelsea's youth academy, before making the switch to West Ham's academy in the summer of 2013. Since then he's advanced through the U18s and U23s, before finally making his debut for the first team in the summer of 2017. He's remained a regular starter for the club since that time.

Rumour probability: 7/10

The Daily Star reported in November that Jose Mourinho had declared his interest in Rice, but now that he's gone, will United still be after the defender? I think they will persevere, as Declan Rice is clearly one for the future if he's already playing consistently for a Premier League side. It's a no-brainer.