Declan Rice: Man City, Man United and Chelsea join Arsenal in race for England star
Declan Rice saga turns into a FOUR horse race after Arsenal’s £80m bid was rejected as Man City, Man United and Chelsea came in hot pursuit – as West Ham hope a bidding war will push the fee above £100m to take
- Chelsea, Man City and United have joined Arsenal in the hunt for Declan Rice
- The Gunners seemed clear favourites, but it has now become a four-horse race
- The Hammers rejected Arsenal’s £80 million bid and are hoping to spark a bidding war
The route from Arsenal to Declan Rice is complicated by the fact that Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have all shown interest at West Ham.
While Arsenal remain favorites to sign Rice despite their £80 million opening bid plus £10 million in add-ons being rejected, it’s turning into a four-horse race for the 24-year-old.
West Ham insiders confirmed on Thursday that all four of the Premier League’s top teams have indicated they want Rice, although the club itself has not commented.
West Ham’s top management welcome a bidding war as they hope it will raise the fee above the £100m that Mail Sport revealed as the minimum last month. The current UK transfer record stands at £106.8 million, which Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez in the last January transfer window.
The race for Rice could turn into a summer saga as West Ham wait for bids from the Premier League’s top clubs, hoping to secure the highest possible price for their captain.
The battle for Declan Rice has now become a four-horse race after Arsenal’s bid was rejected
Man United boss Erik ten Hag also wants to bring Rice to Old Trafford this summer
Sky Sports reported on Thursday that a source at Hammers described the structure of Arsenal’s opening bid as ’embarrassing’, although Mikel Arteta’s club will return with an improved bid. The Daily Telegraph has also reported that a second ‘top club’ will bid for the midfielder in the next 24 hours.
West Ham, after turning down their latest contract extension – worth £200,000 a week – promised Rice that he can leave this summer.
The England international gained respect after agreeing to stay to help in the wake of Mark Noble’s departure as skipper, leading them to their first trophy since 1980 by winning the Europa Conference League.
West Ham are said to be interested in what Man City can offer the player, further delaying The Gunners’ plans to make a quick move towards their number 1 transfer target.
The European champions are not yet fully on the transfer market and are only working on a possible deal for Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic.
But Pep Guardiola’s side could still face some high-profile departures, with the futures of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva currently uncertain.
The England star became the first West Ham captain to lift a European trophy since 1965 with Hammers’ Europa Conference League victory
West Ham – led by David Sullivan – hopes a bidding war can push the price above £100m
The Hammers are also said to be disappointed with the way Arsenal wanted to structure the deal over four years.
Mail Sport reported on Wednesday that West Ham wanted Rice’s guaranteed share of the transfer fee for their player by 2025.
West Ham were one of the clubs featured on UEFA’s financial fairplay watch list last September and are looking to get the full money into their account as soon as possible to ensure they stay comfortably within the laws.
The Treble winners’ interest in Rice comes after the midfielder has been at the center of rivals United’s transfer ambitions for weeks.
In recent days, the Red Devils’ transfer energies have been largely focused on securing the talents of Rice’s friend and England team-mate, Mason Mount.
