Breaking news: As Declan rice finally declares and clears his mind to Manchester United fans over a move to Manchester United, here is what he said .

 Declan Rice has launched a fierce 

defence of Paul Pogba, describing the

 Manchester United midfielder as an 

“unbelievable” player.

Pogba, 28, has faced criticism for a lack

 of consistency since rejoining United from

 Juventus for a then world record fee 

of £89m in 2016.

The France international is out of contract

 at the end of the season and could leave Old 

Trafford on a free transfer, with PSG and Real 

Madrid reportedly interested in the midfielder.

Rice, 23, has been tipped as a potential

 replacement for Pogba at United after 

continuing to impress at West Ham.

But when asked to pick his top five 

midfielders in the Premier League, 

Rice was quick to defend Pogba.

"He gets criticised but he's honestly one

 of the top three players I've ever played

 against," Rice told BT Sport.

"He's just so strong, so good on the 

ball. He can take the ball under a crazy

 amount of pressure and get out of it 

with an unbelievable bit of skill.

"Since he's been in the Premier League

 there have been a lot of opinions about

 him but he is unbelievable.

"My second game for West Ham was 

at Old Trafford, we lost 4-0 and I came 

on with half hour to go and he ran the show.

"I remember I went into a 50-50 with 

him, I hit him and I thought, 'what have 

I run into?', he was rock solid, he 

was so strong."

Rice also had praise for another 

Manchester United transfer target, 

Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.

"Every time we've played against 

Brighton, the way they pass the ball, 

Graham Potter’s got them playing 

unbelievable football and Bissouma 

is a really great player," Rice added.

"When you play against him you see 

what he's like. He is strong in the tackle

, can bring the ball forward and finds

 passes.

"He's got a bit of flair about him 

as well. He's consistent as well."

Rice would also pick Manchester 

City duo Bernardo Silva and Rodri, and

 Chelsea midfielder Mateo 

Kovavic and his three other selections.

"Mateo Kovavic... he is incredible. 

You don't really realise how good he 

is until you play against him," Rice added.

"He can take the ball in tight areas, 

his dribbling ability is incredible, he can

 find a pass, he can control games,

 fairly quick as well. He's always been 

a tough opponent to play against.

"Next one I'm gonna go Bernardo

 Silva. He is so, so good. For someone

 that's so small, he’s got a tenacious 

side to him with the way he presses 

and defends for his team.

"With the ball, he's like a magician. 

I speak to the England boys [who play

 for Man City] when we go away and 

they say he's one of the best players

 they've ever played with.

"I'm going to have to go with Rodri 

as well, just the way he is for that 

Man City side, he's a great player.

"He's got that Spanish side to him 

where he keeps the ball moving, one

 and two touch and constantly knows 

his next pass. It took him a little bit of 

time to adapt to the Premier League

 but now he's a real, top player."

Rice himself is also in the debate 

for the Premier League’s best midfielder

, with United and Chelsea both strongly

 linked with a summer move for the 

England international

He is set to feature on Saturday when 

the Hammers take on Newcastle in 

the early kick-off in the Premier League.

West Ham can move back into the 

Champions League places if they 

win at the London Stadium, while 

Newcastle can move seven points 

clear of the relegation places with a win.