In a stunning turn of events, Arsenal Football Club has reportedly submitted an improved bid of up to £105m for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice. Manager Mikel Arteta has identified the 24-year-old English international as his primary target for this summer’s transfer window. The Gunners’ previous two offers for Rice had been rejected by West Ham, leaving Arsenal determined to secure the services of the talented midfielder.
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The second bid made by Arsenal was a club-record proposal totaling up to £90m, including an upfront payment of £75m and an additional £15m in add-ons spread over a four to five-year period. However, West Ham swiftly turned down that bid, signaling their intent to hold onto Rice.
As the Hammers brace themselves for a potential third offer from Arsenal, it is believed that Rice has set his sights on the Emirates Stadium as his preferred destination. However, Arsenal now faces competition from treble winners Manchester City, who recently had an initial offer of £80m plus £10m in add-ons rejected by West Ham.
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In an effort to outbid Manchester City and secure Rice’s signature, The Athletic reports that Arsenal has tabled an improved offer worth an initial £100m, with an additional £5m in add-ons. If accepted, the total sum of £105m would not only surpass Arsenal’s previous club-record signing of Nicolas Pepe for £72m in 2019 but also become the highest transfer fee ever paid for a British player, exceeding the £100m spent by Manchester City on Jack Grealish in 2021.
Despite having just one year left on his contract at the London Stadium, West Ham values their star midfielder between £100m and £120m. Rice, who started his youth career at Chelsea, has spent his entire professional career at West Ham, making 254 appearances across all competitions since his debut in 2017 and contributing with 15 goals and 13 assists.
Rice, widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders, ended the 2022-23 season on a historic high by leading West Ham to Europa Conference League glory, securing the club’s first European silverware in 58 years. However, Rice is now eager to fulfill his dream of playing in the Champions League, and West Ham chairman David Sullivan has confirmed that the Englishman will be allowed to leave for the right price this summer.
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Arteta and Arsenal’s hierarchy are leaving no stone unturned this summer as they seek to bolster their squad and challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title in the upcoming 2023-24 season. Besides their pursuit of Rice, the Gunners are reportedly on the verge of announcing Chelsea forward Kai Havertz as a new signing, with the German having completed the first part of his medical ahead of a £65m transfer to the Emirates.
Additionally, Arsenal has expressed interest in Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, with “verbal agreements” said to be in place. The Gunners have even tabled a second bid for Timber, valued between €45m (£38.5m) and €48m (£41m).
