Arsenal get closer to £92m Declan Rice transfer in West Ham United news
Arsenal have moved a step closer to clinching the record £92 million signing of West Ham United star Declan Rice, according to The Telegraph.
The England international played a major role in the Irons winning 2-1 against Fiorentina at the Eden Arena to secure their first major trophy since 1980.
However, the England international’s time at the London Stadium appears to be at its end beyond the summer with the Hammers resigned to losing him and Arsenal emerging as frontrunners for his signature.
And according to The Telegraph [8 June], Arsenal have moved a step closer to completing a £92m deal for the England star, with West Ham United identifying potential targets to utilise the transfer fee on.
Leicester City’s Harvey Barnes, Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, and Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez have emerged as targets to spend the incoming windfall on.
Crucial summer
After Wednesday’s European heroics [7 June], confirming their place in next season’s Europa League, West Ham United can now certainly become an attractive proposition for top-tier players this summer.
And given the potential windfall they’re about to receive for Rice’s services this summer, it is indeed set to be an exciting and busy summer at the London Stadium and it is easy to see why they are being linked with such telling names to replace Rice.
The departure of their captain is sure to leave a gaping hole in the middle of the West Ham United park which means the Hammers must be meticulous and smart in identifying the ideal and suitable replacement.
The irons can ill-afford to get a taste of the same fate Tottenham suffered when they sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid in 2013, spending the £100m windfall aimlessly and suffering the damaging consequences down the line.
After such a disastrous Premier League campaign last season, the West Ham United faithful will be keeping a firm eye on how the club respond to Rice's departure and how they can build on their historic European success.
With all that in mind, the summer of 2023 is arguably the biggest in recent memory for the Irons. No pressure David Moyes.