Arsenal closing in on £100m deal for West Ham midfielder
According to recent reports, Arsenal is in advanced negotiations with West Ham United over the transfer of midfielder Declan Rice. It is believed that the two clubs are close to agreeing on a fee, with Arsenal potentially paying over £100 million for the 24-year-old, should certain performance-based add-ons be met. West Ham has come to terms with the fact that they are likely to lose Rice and Arsenal seems eager to make him the most expensive player in their history. While a formal bid has yet to be submitted, discussions between the two clubs are progressing smoothly, and there is confidence that the deal will be finalized in the near future.
Rice is considered Arsenal's primary target, and they are determined to secure his services. Personal terms are not expected to pose any issues, and Arsenal is moving swiftly to ensure a seamless transaction. Their initial offer is around £90 million, but West Ham is keen to maximize their return and has requested additional add-ons that would push the total fee beyond £100 million. Arsenal's current transfer record stands at the £72 million paid for Nicolas Pépé in 2019.
While several other clubs, including Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Manchester United, have shown interest in Rice, Arsenal has been the most aggressive in their pursuit. It appears that the likelihood of a rival club signing the West Ham captain is diminishing. Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, is an avid admirer of Rice and believes he will be instrumental in their pursuit of the Premier League title. To accommodate Rice in the squad, Arteta is reportedly willing to let go of Granit Xhaka, who may join Bayer Leverkusen.
In addition to Rice, Arsenal is considering a move for Brighton midfielder Moisés Caicedo, who is also a target for Chelsea. Furthermore, they are exploring the possibility of signing Manchester City's Ilkay Gündogan on a free transfer. Arteta and Arsenal are actively looking to strengthen their midfield options as they aim to build a competitive team.
Declan Rice himself is reportedly keen on working under Arteta and has declined West Ham's attempts to keep him at the club. West Ham's largest shareholder, David Sullivan, revealed that the player turned down a contract extension worth £200,000 per week. Rice concluded his time with West Ham on a positive note by leading the team to victory against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
Meanwhile, West Ham is already considering replacements for Rice and has expressed interest in Ajax's Edson Álvarez, Fulham's João Palhinha, and Southampton's James Ward-Prowse. The club is also contemplating the appointment of a director of football, following discussions between Sullivan and manager David Moyes, who will continue his tenure after guiding the team to their first trophy in 43 years.
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