Declan Rice ‘open’ to Arsenal move as West Ham United transfer latest shared by Daily Mail journalist
West Ham captain Declan Rice is “open” to joining Arsenal this summer after they qualified for next season’s Champions League, according to Daily Mail journalist Sami Mokbel.
Rice has been heavily linked with an exit from the London Stadium at the end of the current campaign.
And the midfielder is now reportedly tempted to move to the Gunners after they secured a return to Champions League football.
“West Ham captain Declan Rice is the Gunners’ priority target in central midfield,” Mokbel wrote for the Daily Mail.
“Rice is open to joining Arsenal now they have qualified for next season’s Champions League, but the Hammers’ £100million valuation of the England international could yet prove a stumbling block.”
Huge decision awaits
Rice has been the standout player at West Ham for many seasons now, and it is therefore unsurprising to see so much interest in the young midfielder.
His presence was sorely missed in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday (3 April), with manager David Moyes and all associated with the Hammers desperate for Rice to shake off his illness and recover in time for the next match.
There looks certain to be a massive bidding war for Rice this summer, with the Hammers star set to have his pick of a long list of potential suitors.
Arsenal’s playing style definitely calls for a box-to-box midfielder such as Rice, but the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United could also do with having the Hammers ace in their squads for the coming years.
The England international will certainly be focused on keeping his current club in the Premier League and also helping them lift the Europa Conference League trophy, but a small part of him will be weighing up his next move.