'He would have fitted here' - Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag addresses possible 'regret' over failing to sign Arsenal star Declan Rice in the summer

Manchester United were linked with a move for Rice last summer until the midfielder opted to move to Arsenal instead. Rice has since explained his transfer decision and revealed how he wanted to play for Mikel Arteta. Erik ten Hag's side signed Mason Mount from Chelsea instead but have seen the midfielder struggle with injury throughout the campaign, while Rice has played a key role in Arsenal's title challenge.

Rice has scored seven goals and bagged eight assists for Arsenal this season to help fire the Gunners to the top of the table ahead of the final weeks of the season. His performances have seen him nominated the Premier League Player of the Season award, while Arteta has said having Rice and Kai Havertz in his squad have raised Arsenal's level. Ten Hag feels that Rice would have been a good fit for United but does not regret having signed Mount instead.

He told reporters: "He (Rice) is a very good player and he would absolutely have fitted in here. But it is not I am not happy with Mason. This is what you are suggesting. I am very happy with Mason and he is also a very robust player.

"You see in his profile: he played in his last four seasons - this is the fifth - in the last four seasons he only had only a small (injury) issue at the end of his Chelsea career. Before that, he played almost all the games, three seasons after each other, with three days turnaround, he always played.

"It is really bad luck what happened and he is a really good player. We really missed him across the game, he absolutely could have had a contribution to our levels."

Rice will come up against Ten Hag and Manchester United on Sunday as the Gunners continue their title push. Arteta's side arrive on a run of four straight wins in the Premier League, while United have won just one of their last seven and were thumped 4-0 by Crystal Palace last time out.