Declan Rice set to complete West Ham United transfer exit this week as Arsenal ‘forced’ into payment ‘compromise’ – Jacob Steinberg
Arsenal have been “forced” to accept fewer payments over a shorter timespan to West Ham in order to secure top target Declan Rice, Jacob Steinberg reports in The Guardian.
The Gunners wanted to pay the £100million guaranteed portion of the £105m total fee for the Irons captain over five years, with the Hammers instead angling for it all to arrive by the end of next year.
A “compromise” has been reached that will see Arsenal pay the nine-figure amount in three instalments over two years, with summer 2025 the final payment date.
Rice is now “expected to undergo a medical and join Arsenal this week” as the longest running West Ham transfer saga in recent years closes in on its final conclusion.
Hard bargain
Securing so much money in less than half the timeframe that Arsenal wanted to provide it is tough negotiating from the Hammers.
But it shows how badly Mikel Arteta and the Gunners wanted to ensure that they came out of this transfer with Rice in their midfield, and Irons fans will know all about why.
It won’t be an easy task to replace the 24-year-old who has been a leader in practice for years but also as the official club captain since the retirement of Mark Noble a year ago.
It was therefore down to him to lift the Europa Conference League trophy at the end of his final West Ham campaign, which will serve as his parting gift to the supporters.
David Moyes surely needs to pick up a host of central midfield options whatever happens now, with the form of Tomas Soucek nowhere near what it was a couple of years ago, and the signing of Flynn Downes last summer looking like a folly since the manager has never been prepared to give him an extended run in a deep-lying position.
Both could feasibly follow Rice out of the club in the same window, which would leave a massive task of refilling the position that is going to be a key priority either way.
In other West Ham news, the Irons have been tipped to start filling the gap with a Premier League ace who Moyes almost signed once before and could be the perfect manager for.