To recruit Declan Rice, a midfielder for West Ham United, this summer, Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke is reportedly willing to pay a club record figure.
According to manager David Moyes, there is a “good chance” the 24-year-old will depart the London Stadium at the conclusion of the current campaign.
As well as the German powerhouse Bayern Munich, a number of elite Premier League teams, including Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City, are said to have interested in Rice.
Ahead of the 2023–24 season, manager Mikel Arteta has named the England international as one of his top priorities, and the Gunners are said to be the front-runners to recruit the midfielder.
According to a recent source, Arsenal is preparing to make Rice their first major money offer, but they won’t contact West Ham until the end of the season.
Rice’s contract at the London Stadium expires at the end of the upcoming season, and West Ham has the option to extend it by a further 12 months. The East Londoners are reportedly holding out for a price of at least £100 million before agreeing to sell their prized asset.
The Express reports that West Ham is putting pressure on Arsenal to sell Rice and has used the British record signing of Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea, who paid about £107.5 million for the midfielder in January, as a benchmark for their estimation of Rice.
The American is reportedly willing to pay the majority of the club record transfer cost up front, and the article also states that Arsenal owner Kroenke is putting together a £92 million transfer package to sign Rice.
Nicolas Pepe, a winger currently on loan at French club Nice who has an uncertain future at the Emirates Stadium, was purchased by Arsenal in 2019 for a club-record £72 million.
Should the Gunners and Hammers agree on a Rice transfer, sporting director Edu would then be responsible with negotiating Rice’s personal terms. A five-year contract worth £300,000 per week is rumoured to be on the table.
With Bayer Leverkusen reportedly in advanced negotiations to sign the Switzerland international, Granit Xhaka appears increasingly likely to leave the Emirates Stadium at the time of Arsenal’s move for Rice.
Rice has played with West Ham his entire senior career, making 243 games in all competitions since his debut in 2017.
In 48 games so far this season, the former Chelsea cadet, who took over for Mark Noble as the Hammers’ captain last summer, has tallied 15 goals and 13 assists for the team. This includes five goals and four assists in just 48 games this year.
Rice scored in West Ham’s 3-1 victory over Leeds United in the Premier League at London Stadium on Sunday, which may have been his final game for the club. The midfielder will be looking to lead the Hammers to European success when they take on Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final on June 7.
James Ward-Prowse, a midfielder for Southampton, has reportedly been considered by West Ham as a potential Rice replacement this summer.