Arsenal are ready to submit their THIRD bid for Declan Rice – bringing them closer to West Ham’s £100m asking price – after Manchester City turned down a £90m offer
- Arsenal have informed West Ham that they intend to make a third bid for Declan Rice
- The new offer is expected to be closer to Hammers’ asking price of £100 million
- They compete against Man City, who had rejected a £90 million offer for the midfielder
Arsenal have informed West Ham of their intention to make a third formal offer for Declan Rice, which will bring them closer to his £100 million valuation.
Manchester City’s first formal offer of £90 million – consisting of £80 million in guaranteed cash and a further £10 million in add-ons – for Rice was rejected by the Hammers on Tuesday.
Having seen two rejected bids, their most recent a bid of some £75m plus a further £15m in bonuses, Arsenal are now believed to have informed the Hammers hierarchy that they are returning with an improved formal offer – in what is effectively seen as a verbal offer.
Sources have indicated the offer is close to the Hammers’ £100 million asking price.
The structure of the deal will also be a key factor, with West Ham preferring the guaranteed part of the fee to be paid in early 2025. Arsenal have so far offered to pay the fee over the course of five years.
Arsenal have informed West Ham that they intend to make a third bid for midfielder Declan Rice
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta – who is contending with Man City’s Pep Guardiola for Rice – is desperate for the midfielder and his club is expected to bid closer to the £100m asking price
Manchester United are also interested in Rice, but are seen as an outsider in the race.
United would rather use fringe players as makeweights in the deal; with Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay of interest to Hammers head coach David Moyes.
Since making his debut at the age of 18 in 2017, 24-year-old Rice has developed into a homegrown hero for the East London club.
In total, he has made 245 appearances and scored 15 goals.
During that time, Rice – who made three appearances for Ireland in 2018 before moving to England – has established himself as a key figure for Gareth Southgate’s men, winning 43 caps.
The Hammers hierarchy (pictured – West Ham chairman David Sullivan (right)) seek a lucrative package for their star player who has made over 200 appearances for the club
The Hammers’ win in the Europa Conference League last season concluded what had been a difficult season for the club as they flirted with relegation and Moyes came under intense pressure.
However, a late-season streak of four wins in their last 10 games ensured safety and a 14th-place finish, before beating Fiorentina 2-1 in the Conference League final thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s last-gasp winner.
This means Rice’s latest involvement with the club could be the first Hammers skipper since Bobby Moore to lift a European trophy.