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Declan Rice agrees terms with Arsenal, wants West Ham United compensated in transfer exit
West Ham captain Declan Rice has agreed personal terms with Arsenal as he edges closer to a big-money summer exit, according to Football Transfers.
The England star is in high demand this summer, with Bayern Munich becoming a major player in the race recently, while Premier League giants Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have all been variously linked.
Rice’s preference to remain in the English top flight has made Arsenal appear favourites for some weeks, and while contract terms have been negotiated sources have told Football Transfers, there remains no deal between the clubs.
They report: “FootballTransfers understands that Rice, although eager to move to the Champions League side, also wants to see the club where he has been since he was 14 adequately compensated for his departure.”
Closing in
The Europa Conference League final is obviously the primary focus for West Ham and Rice for the next week, but it looks like the wheels are starting to turn on what appears to be his inevitable exit.
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Players often agree terms before transfer negotiations even begin on a fee, to ensure that the wrangling is worth the effort if successful, so there is no guarantee that Arsenal will be his eventual destination.
Suggestions that Bayern are willing to meet the Hammers’ asking price make them a doubly-attractive option for the club, in receiving the cash they want and shipping their star out of the league.
But if he wants to stay in England he ultimately will have a major say in what happens over the next few weeks, and it is probably worth keeping an eye on Chelsea still.
The Blues were seen as the most likely winners of this race for some time, and their willingness to spend over and above Arsenal’s limit was proven with the January signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Their lack of success this season leaving them without European football, and the possible departure of close friend Mason Mount, appear to have damaged their prospects but if West Ham have to sell to a London rival they are going to want whoever it is to cough up.
Arsenal have made a breakthrough, and look most likely for now, but talks at club level figure to be far less straight-forward.