According to a new report, Manchester City is getting closer to signing midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham.
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal will be devastated by the news, as the club has already had two bids for the England international rejected since the end of the Premier League season.
Rice will be considered as a replacement for club captain Ilkay Gundogan, who is expected to leave on a free transfer, according to Gianluca Di Marzio in the report.
A new deal with the Europa Conference League champions, which could have paid up to £200,000 per week, is thought to have been rejected by Rice.
Due to the total cost as well as the way the payments were structured, it is thought that Arsenal’s offers were much below West Ham’s £100 million requirement.
Rice has revealed that he wants to play in the Champions League, and co-chairman David Sullivan has acknowledged that Rice wants to find a new challenge.
It doesn’t appear like West Ham’s qualification for the Europa League—the only time they have ever done so in three straight seasons in their history—will persuade him to stay.
As he approaches his 25th birthday, Rice is eager to play Champions League football, and City is providing him the chance to join their campaign to win the championship.
And it is now said that they and West Ham are nearing an agreement.
Another high-profile English acquisition at City, Jack Grealish, helped the team win the Premier League in his first season there before playing a significant part in their Triple Crown triumph.
Although Arsenal can provide a young, talented team for him to develop with, the possibility to win trophies upon moving to the Etihad could prove to be too much to pass up.
Rice had stated on his future before leaving for England’s international duty: “There’s interest from other teams, that’s out there, but ultimately I still have two more years at West Ham.
“I adore this team, and I adore representing this team. Since nothing has happened as of yet, my attention is on playing for West Ham, having fun tonight, and waiting and seeing what happens.
“Let’s just see what happens. I’m the captain of this club, and I adore it dearly and cannot say enough good things about it. Just let’s wait and see.