Arsenal are preparing their THIRD bid for Declan Rice, which could transfer closer to the £100m asking price
Arsenal have informed West Ham of their intention to secure a third official for Declan Rice, which could bring them closer to his £100m valuation.
On Tuesday, the Hammers rejected Manchester City’s first official bid of £90m, which consists of £80m in guaranteed money and a further £10m in add-ons.
Having seen two bids rejected, with the latest offering around £75m plus an additional £15m in bonuses, Arsenal are understood to be familiar with the Hammers hierarchy, who they return with improved formality. successfully considered as verbal collateral.
Sources have indicated that the offer is close to the Hammers’ £100m asking price.
Getting the deal done may even be a key issue, with West Ham preferring to have the guaranteed part of the fee paid at the start of 2025. So far, Arsenal have provided to pay the fee within 5 years.
Arsenal are aware West Ham are planning to make a third bid for midfielder Declan Rice.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, who is battling Man City’s Pep Guardiola for Rice, is determined to land the midfielder and is expected to bring his buy-in closer to his £100m asking price.
Manchester United are also interested in Rice, but are considered outsiders in the race.
United would use the fringe gamer as makeweights in the deal; with Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay of interest to Hammers head coach David Moyes.
Since making his debut as an 18-year-old in 2017, 24-year-old Rice has become a home-grown hero for the East London outfit.
In total, he has participated in 245 games and scored 15 goals.
In that time, Rice, who won three caps for Ireland in 2018 before moving to England, has become a key figure for Gareth Southgate’s men, earning 43 caps.
The Hammers hierarchy (pictured – West Ham chairman David Sullivan (right)) are seeking a lucrative package deal for their member, who has renewed 200 memberships.
The Hammers’ victory in the Europa Conference League last season capped what had been a difficult season as they flirted with relegation, and Moyes arrived here under intense pressure.
However, an end-of-season run of 4 wins in the last 10 video games ensured safety and a 14th-place finish, earlier than a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina within the Conference League, as Jarrod Bowen’s final win.
It means Rice’s latest entry could be the first Hammers captain since Bobby Moore to lift the European trophy.
