West Ham United handed Declan Rice transfer boost as David Ornstein drops Arsenal financial worry
Arsenal might not have the finances to fund a move for both West Ham ace Declan Rice and Brighton star Moises Caicedo, according to David Ornstein.
The Hammers midfielder looks increasingly likely to leave the London Stadium at the end of the season.
As noted by Ornstein, Premier League rivals Arsenal are “clearly” interested in Rice, but they may be unable to land his signature due to financial reasons.
“Arsenal’s interest in Declan Rice is well-documented, and they will have competition for his signing,” Ornstein said on Back Pages Tonight. “They looked at it in January, similarly with Caicedo, though they went further with that, they tried to sign him.
“I’m not sure they’ll be able to do both financially, but clearly the interest is there.”
Hope for the Hammers
Arsenal not being able to sign Rice this summer does, of course, represent a massive boost for West Ham, who will be desperate to keep their captain fantastic at the club for another season.
At the same time, however, it could simply mean that another Premier League giant swoops in for the 24-year-old, who is seemingly destined to leave the Hammers in the summer regardless.
Rice is definitely deserving of the step up to Champions League football, meaning a transfer to the likes of Manchester United or Manchester City could be on the cards if Arsenal don’t come through.
Liverpool and Chelsea could also make a move for the England international, with the Reds set to play in Europe next season, just not in the Champions League as things stand.
Rice has been a standout in claret and blue for several years now, but the midfielder can take his game even further by joining a bigger club that is regularly competing for silverware.