Arsenal ‘not giving up’ as Manchester City table highest Declan Rice bid at West Ham United – Fabrizio Romano
Arsenal “will respond” to Manchester City tabling a first Declan Rice offer to West Ham as they are “not giving up”, according to Fabrizio Romano.
A new bid totalling £90million, with £80million guaranteed, arrived from the Etihad on Monday evening and the Daily Mail report that Arsenal’s third offer is set to follow within “48 hours”.
The Hammers want as much as £120million to sell their 24-year-old captain this summer and are expected to reject the latest advance from the champions.
Romano reported on Twitter Monday night (26 June): “Understand Arsenal will respond to Man City official proposal submitted tonight for Declan Rice.
“Arsenal will bid again after 2 proposals rejected in the recent weeks. They are not giving up at this stage …both City and Arsenal had plans to bid for Rice this week.”
The Mail then went further to suggest Arsenal’s latest will be received at the London Stadium by Wednesday night (28 June), and that: “Sources claim that Arsenal’s third offer will be closer towards the Hammers’ £100m valuation”.
Battle
This looks like it might be the week that makes the difference in the long race that is expected to see Rice finally depart West Ham.
City making an official bid puts the pressure on Arsenal, even if they remain favourites, and indicates there is a meaningful threat to them landing their top target.
And if Rice has intimated to Pep Guardiola and the hierarchy at the Etihad that he is in fact open to moving there it means there is a genuine auction now on the cards.
The treble winners surely need Rice less than Mikel Arteta’s side, considering they already have Rodri in central midfield and could afford to spend big on Kalvin Phillips last summer and hardly play him, but the departure of Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona on a free transfer appears to have strengthened their resolve.
And with the departing German’s goalscoring influence coming to the fore in recent seasons it might suggest that a more advanced role could be available to the Irons star if he were to take the Etihad option.
Indications appear to be that West Ham are still just going to accept whichever club meets their asking price though, so as long as Rice is open to either it should help them get reach their goal.
In other West Ham news, a behind the scenes move has increased fears that another star man at the London Stadium might now follow Rice out of the club.