The scale of Erik ten Hag’s priorities now that he has arrived at Manchester United is unenviable.
Whether it be strengthening the spine of the squad, rebuilding the faith of supporters, or creating a new culture at Old Trafford, it would be unsurprising if the pressure of each of these tasks is already beginning to weigh heavily upon him. Add into the mix the drama of potentially finding a new captain and it is enough to give you a headache just thinking about it.
Most United fans are in agreement that Harry Maguire should be released from the burden of captaincy in pre-season. That is not to say that he should lose his place altogether in the squad but the England international could only benefit from less of a spotlight on him.
A problem that Ten Hag will soon encounter though is that, currently, there are no viable options to choose from to replace Maguire. Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo has the experience but with his contract expiring at the end of next season, it would seem short-sighted to give him the role for just a season.
Likewise, David de Gea may not be around for too much longer either. So, beyond those two, nobody screams ‘captain material’.
One route open to Ten Hag this summer would be to buy a captain and luckily there is one man who could strengthen the spine of the team while also having the right temperament to step into that prestigious role – Declan Rice.
West Ham’s sensational midfielder has been a long-term target for United with the team currently crying out for a defensive midfielder. It is reported that he is open to leaving the London Stadium so now could be the perfect time for the Reds to swoop in.
His price tag may be a sticking point, however in the current market £100m may be what is needed to secure a player who could lead Ten Hag’s new era. Rice’s professionalism has been commended by those who know him best, including England manager Gareth Southgate.
Back in March, Southgate even tipped Rice to become a captain. He told the Independent: “He is right amongst that (England captaincy) despite his age.
