West Ham United plan emerges for imminent new Arsenal bid for Declan Rice in Sunday transfer update
West Ham are in “no rush” to accept the new Arsenal bid when it does arrive unless it is “high” and plan to wait on other offers, Kieran Gill reports.
The Gunners remain the favourites to sign the Hammers star despite interest from the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, but had a first bid of £80million plus £10million more in add-ons “immediately rejected” [Gill via Twitter, 15 June].
West Ham want at least £100million to let their captain go, and while personal terms are thought to have been agreed over a move to the Emirates the club are not pressed to facilitate the deal just yet.
Reporting via Twitter on Sunday (18 June) Daily Mail journalist Gill wrote: “Declan Rice to Arsenal latest: Second bid yet to be submitted. West Ham contact says they are in no rush.
“Unless Arsenal bid high, they’ll wait to see what other offers come in.”
Sensible
Given the Rice race has been in the offing for at least two years now it would be pointless to jump at an early strong offer when a better one might be around the corner.
David Moyes presumably will need an answer before the new season nears, with his incoming transfer business likely to hinge on cash from the sale.
But with City hovering and Chelsea remaining in the background the hierarchy might as well give it a bit of time unless Arsenal meet their asking price imminently.
Currently the chances are that Rice is playing for Mikel Arteta next season, as the Premier League runners-up have looked to take advantage of their place in the queue early.
But West Ham have been publicly pretty clear about wanting a nine-figure fee for the 24-year-old for some months, so until one arrives there is going to be no urgency to usher him out the door.
A major offer from the Emirates in the coming days could change things but it looks like this race has a way to run just yet.