For the money Rice will be going for, United's midfield will still lack that quality/trait I just specified. Why do you think Ten Hag wanted Frenkie, and got Eriksen? He (along with lots of United fans on here) clearly identified that United need a player that has the technical quality, and passing quality to be our constant go to player in possession. Rice isn't going to provide that. So while United will be more solid defensively as Rice is better than Fred or whoever in that department, it's still massively lacking that quality to help retain possession.
It is paramount that United get that type of player in. I don't even know if it's wise to spend money on Palhinha either because he's also not that player, and I don't know if we'll have the funds to get 2 midfielders along with a striker, and GK.