Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are closing in on their No 1 summer target – Getty Images/Ben Stansall
Arsenal have lodged a sensational bid worth £105 million for Declan Rice as they responded to Manchester City’s opening offer with a proposal that would shatter the north London club’s transfer record.
The race for Rice has dramatically intensified, with Arsenal’s third offer (£100 million plus £5 million in add-ons) comfortably exceeding their previous two bids this summer.
It remains to be seen whether City will look to match Arsenal’s latest bid, and indeed whether West Ham deem it to be acceptable.
West Ham have been demanding at least £100 million for their captain and, with this latest offer reaching that mark, it appears that this transfer saga is finally reaching a conclusion.
Telegraph Sport reported earlier on Tuesday that West Ham had received verbal offers from two clubs for more than the £90 million they rejected from Manchester City.
Arsenal turned that interest into a formal offer as they look to secure a deal for a player who has been their top target for months.
Arsenal want to rebuild their midfield around the England international, with Granit Xhaka set to leave the club and Thomas Partey potentially following him.
It has long been assumed that Rice’s preference is to join Arsenal and that they remain the favourites. However, if the choice is to stay at West Ham or join Pep Guardiola’s treble winners, Rice is not likely to turn down the move to City.
Rice has played 245 times for West Ham since making his debut in 2017 – Getty Images/Rob Newell
Rice has held conversations with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and City’s Pep Guardiola. City made their bid once it became apparent their captain, Ilkay Gundogan, was accepting a two-year deal at Barcelona once his City contract expires.
Manchester United have also been considering a player-plus-cash deal for Rice, but asked for more time and must be regarded as outsiders.
Even so, West Ham have shown interest in United midfielder Scott McTominay, who is on the list of players available for transfer, while manager David Moyes likes Harry Maguire but his wage demands are likely to be too high.
Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel has also shown interest in Rice but it is understood the German club decided against making a move several weeks ago, once the price became apparent.
West Ham have benchmarked the fee against how much Real Madrid are paying for Jude Bellingham (up to £115 million) after agreeing to Rice’s request to be sold during this window.
West Ham will be delighted that Arsenal have not had a free run at signing Rice and that a bidding war has started for their prize asset.
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