Alan Smith shares Declan Rice transfer verdict, Arsenal in ‘box seat’ for West Ham United ace
Alan Smith believes Arsenal are in the “box seat” to sign West Ham midfielder Declan Rice this summer.
The Arsenal striker has suggested that a switch to North London wouldn’t be “too turbulent” for the Hammers ace.
Rice could play his final match for West Ham in their Europa Conference League final clash with Fiorentina next month.
“I can’t get into the mind of Declan, but I think maybe that he would prefer to stay in the Premier League for a bit,” said Smith, as quoted by Sky Sports. “The Premier League, without being biased, is the best league in the world. It is where most players these days want to be. So I would imagine he’d want to play for one of the big clubs.
“He’s a London lad, a move to Arsenal wouldn’t be too turbulent for him. It’d be very easy I think. But Bayern Munich obviously have money to spend, they can offer him a very nice contract package. So it would then be up to him.
“I think Arsenal might just be in the box seat in terms of getting him, and that would be a great coup.”
Perfect Arsenal player
The battle for Rice’s services could last all summer, or it could end rather abruptly if a club comes in and meets West Ham’s asking price for their star man.
He definitely won’t leave on the cheap, but he also won’t be held by his current club for much longer, with the Hammers perhaps already looking for his replacement as they concede that Rice will leave this summer.
Arsenal meanwhile are in need of reinforcements after their exciting but ultimately disappointing Premier League campaign, where they threw away the title to Manchester City in the very last stages.
Rice could definitely thrive at the Gunners, particularly under the watchful eye of manager Mikel Arteta, with the England international definitely capable of making them a stronger team.
He will be the talk of the transfer window when it finally opens, with several clubs set to battle it out for his signature.
Hammers fans will, however, want one last mammoth effort from their captain against Serie A side Fiorentina in early June.