Arsenal make third bid for Declan Rice
Arsenal have made a third bid for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice worth a reported £105 million.
The deal which according to reports is a £100 million initial fee, plus £5 million in performance-related add-ons breaks the Gunners transfer record of £72 million for Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019.
Rice is Arsenal’s primary target this summer with the England international’s preferred destination thought to be the Emirates Stadium.
West Ham have already rejecter two £90 million bids from Arsenal as well as a similar figure from reigning Premier League champions Manchester City who are looking to hijack the deal.
The Hammers’ valuation of Rice is believed to be around £120 million and want a guaranteed fee paid up in a shorter time frame rather than broken into small fees paid in installments.
Rice began his senior career at West Ham in 2017 and has played 245 times for the London outfit, scoring 15 goals and providing 13 assists.
The 24-year-old English defensive midfielder made 50 appearances during the 2022-23 season which culminated in the Hammers lifting the UEFA Europa Conference League, their first trophy in 43 years and first European trophy in 58 years.
