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‘Would be PERFECT for Arsenal’: Danny Murphy insists Declan Rice would be a ‘huge’ signing for Mikel Arteta… with the Gunners making the £80m West Ham captain their main summer target
- It is believed that Arsenal have made Declan Rice their main target for next summer.
- The West Ham star was listed as one of the best players in England last year
- His shares have since fallen as the Hammers find themselves fighting relegation.
- Danny Murphy feels Rice would be the ‘perfect guy’ to sign for the Gunners
Danny Murphy has urged Arsenal to sign Declan Rice amid rumors of an £80m move for the midfielder in the summer.
The Gunners are believed to have made the West Ham midfielder their main target for the summer as they look to add depth to an excellent, if thin side.
They have had little luck in the transfer window this January, with Chelsea outmaneuvering them to sign targets Joao Félix and Mykhaylo Mudryk.
It is believed that Arsenal have made Declan Rice their main target for next summer.
Mikel Arteta is keen to break the Gunners’ transfer record to bring in the West Ham star
Despite his recent failure to complete big-name deals, Murphy felt that Mikel Arteta’s team would benefit greatly from signing Rice, as he said. talk SPORT: “I think it would be a huge, huge move for Arsenal.
“I think he would be the perfect guy for Arsenal because they are so dependent on Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka.”
While the North London outfit’s first-choice midfield pairing have been terrific this season, Albert Sambi Lokonga looked a notch below when he came on as a substitute during their recent FA Cup tie against Oxford United and may struggle to match them if it’s necessary as injury coverage.
Danny Murphy felt Rice could be the “perfect guy” to sign for Arteta’s side.
Sportsmail columnist Murphy continued: “Not only are you getting a wonderful midfielder who would be there for the rest of his career, maybe if they continue, you’re also getting an Englishman who the fans can relate to, they know he can do in the Premier. League.
“He’s going to get better and I think he’ll have more of a platform to score goals.”
Rice was ranked among England’s best midfielders last season after a stellar campaign with the Hammers that saw them finish seventh in the league and reach the Europa League semi-finals.
Arsenal missed out on Mykhalo Mudryk, who joined Chelsea after linking up with the Emirates.
David Moyes valued him at £200m at the time, and while his shares may have since gone down, the 24-year-old remains a stylish option with close to 200 games of top-flight experience.
Adding more players of Rice’s quality could be vital if Arsenal are to have any chance of maintaining their new heavyweight status next season.
They currently sit eight points clear at the top of the league after picking up their first away win in the north London derby since 2014 on Sunday.