Arsenal have presented a staggering £105 million offer to West Ham United for Declan Rice as they intend to secure the services of the Englishman.
If the Hammers accept the offer from Arsenal, Rice will become the most expensive British player ever.
This bid tabled by Mikel Arteta’s side comes hours after Manchester City’s £90 million offer was rejected by West Ham United.
The Citizens submitted a bid of £90 million for Declan Rice, with £80 million guaranteed payment and £10 million in bonuses.
However, it was rejected by the Europa Conference League champions as it fell below the asking price demanded.
This record-breaking offer from Arsenal is their third bid to acquire Declan Rice, whose contract with the Hammers comes to an end in the summer of 2024.
Arsenal’s second bid of £90 million which was rejected, was a club record transfer fee which consisted of £75 million guaranteed payment and £15 million in add-ons.
City will have to pay more than what they paid for Jack Grealish in 2021
Manchester City certainly now have to part with an amount in excess of the £100 million they paid in August 2021 to secure the services of Jack Grealish.
However, If they can’t send in an acceptable bid to West Ham United, they will have to concede defeat to Arsenal in the pursuit of Declan Rice.
It is believed that the 24-year-old prefers a move to the Emirates Stadium to play under the tutelage of Mikel Arteta.
Rice is also fascinated by Pep Guardiola and City’s success in recent years, but he will rather remain in London than move to Manchester.
West Ham United were initially understood to be demanding a cumulative fee estimated to be above the £106 million Chelsea splashed out to sign Enzo Fernandez in January 2023.
Arsenal latest offer for Declan Rice might be the offer that results in them signing the Englishman
However, based on new realities, the amount tabled by Arsenal appears to be too juicy an offer to be turned down by the hammers.
Declan Rice is presently enjoying the off-season break and he is not expected to return to training with David Moyes’ side for another two weeks after his impressive showing for England.
Rice started both matches for England in their UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifiers, against Malta and North Macedonia.
The Three Lions Of England defeated both teams by a cumulative 11-0 margin, smashing Malta by 4-0 and annihilating North Macedonia by 7-0.
Declan Rice played an instrumental role in both victories, as England are nearing qualification for the tournament proper that will be hosted in Germany.
Mikel Arteta wants the deal for the England midfielder to be completed before the Gunners travel to the United States Of America for a preseason tour.
Arsenal’s first preseason showdown in the US sees them play against MLS All-Stars on the 20th of July 2023.
The North London side are now confident of an agreement in sight as they feel they have tabled a bid too good to refuse for Rice.
Manchester City will now keenly scrutinize their next targets, if they are bowing out of the deal for the Englishman, with manager Guardiola looking to add more bodies in midfield after the exit of IIkay Gundogan.
The Citizens confirmed their acquisition of Mateo Kovacic on Tuesday, the 27th of June, 2023 as they look to bolster their squad ahead of the new season.
Rice was eyeing the possibility of moving down north of England
Declan Rice welcomed the idea of moving his family to Manchester if Arsenal had not met the asking price of West Ham United.
The 24-year-old is keen for a move away from the London Stadium after leading the club to a Europa Conference League final triumph in Prague.
Hammers’ club chairman David Sullivan confirmed that Rice will exit the club this summer, if any club meet the asking price demanded by the Londoners.
Declan Rice has turned down many offers from West Ham United to further his deal over the last one-and-a-half year, with the opportunity to pocket home over £200,000 weekly.
Arsenal fans will definitely be hoping that this deal for the highly-sought after midfielder is wrapped up soon enough as he is Mikel Arteta’s priority target this summer.
The England International should offer them more quality, dynamism and energy in midfield and he might go on to be a club great in the future as he is still just 24.
