Jim White and Martin Keown debate ‘enormous’ issue Arsenal face with Declan Rice transfer live on talkSPORT
Martin Keown believes the “enormous” price tag West Ham United have slapped on Declan Rice could prove too much for Arsenal to pay this summer.
The 24-year-old is widely expected to leave the London Stadium this summer, with his contract running out in just over 12 months and Fabrizio Romano sharing (5 February) that “all parties” believe the midfielder will leave the club this summer.
Speaking live on White and Jordan on talkSPORT (8 May), Jim White questioned Keown about the possibility of the England international moving to the Emirates Stadium this summer and whether the price tag could be an issue.
“I am sure Arsenal will be interested, but the transfer fee is going to be enormous,” Keown said.
“West Ham will want to cash in as he runs down his contract, they need to do the right business. While he’s there, they take advantage of him, he’s helped them stay in the Premier League.
“I think he is going to be too expensive for Arsenal, quite frankly, and he will be too expensive for Liverpool, who have been running in the Champions League for years now.
“It is a player Arsenal would like maybe as a free transfer, but not when he will cost them too much.”
“You wouldn’t go the extra mile for him though Martin, with the way he plays?” White asked.
“I don’t know if Arsenal, if you look at their business Jim, Trossard came in in the transfer window when there were bigger fish and more expensive players, so I don’t think that’s the route Arsenal will go and the money to do that.”
Who then?
Although Arsenal have emerged as the favourites for Rice’s signature over the last few months, Keown could have a point in saying they won’t be willing to pay the likely £100million asking fee.
The Gunners spent frugally in the January transfer window, refusing to splash out on both Moises Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk and instead going for the cheaper option of Leandro Trossard.
Whether this was a strategic move with one eye on a busy summer transfer window is debatable, but Mikel Arteta’s side are yet to go big on a player in the way Chelsea and Manchester City have spent in recent years.
With Manchester City looking like they are on the back foot to sign Jude Bellingham, they could yet emerge as suitors for Rice as a result, while reuniting with the Blues has always looked a tantalising prospect for the Hammers captain.
This transfer is likely to dominate the headlines this summer, and it would come as no surprise to see numerous Premier League sides vying for the West Ham United captain.