West Ham United transfer news: Declan Rice bidding war now on the cards as Arsenal update emerges
Arsenal remain the frontrunners to secure Declan Rice’s signature but are reluctant to meet the £100m West Ham United asking price, according to 90Min.
The England international played a major role in the Irons winning 2-1 against Fiorentina at the Eden Arena to secure their first major trophy since 1980 but is expected to call time on his London Stadium career.
Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Chelsea have all emerged as strong potential suitors for England international this summer, with West Ham majority owner David Sullivan valuing him at £100m-plus for his services [Daily Mail, 8 June].
According to a report in The Telegraph [8 June], Arsenal were willing to offer a whopping £92m with the Hammers already targeting three players to utilise the windfall on.
However, according to 90Min [10 June], West Ham United believe the midfielder could end up commanding a higher fee if a bidding war can be sparked.
Arsenal are wary of paying £100m-plus and instead values Rice at closer to £90m, and the Gunners would be looking to strike a deal that would see them pay an initial £80m with add-ons to take the price higher.
The difference in valuation has potentially left the door open for other potential suitors to swoop in.
Must be firm
Interest in Rice is certainly rife right now, with Bayern Munich the latest club to be joining the hunt and how the West Ham United faithful would love to see the England international move on abroad rather than any of their capital rivals.
Arsenal’s reluctance to pay the £100m-plus fee was always expected especially given their desperation to acquire his services, but West Ham United remain in a strong position with Rice still contracted to 2025 and the current going rate for a player of his hugely marketable standing.
The 24-year-old has become an international superstar and has emerged as one of the best of his position on the continent so the increasing interest in his services is inevitable.
Rice is certainly a £100m-plus player, especially with his much younger English counterpart Jude Bellingham will be moving to Real Madrid for a similar fee.
Given Rice’s desire to leave the London Stadium, West Ham United must ensure they aren’t bullied into making a quick and cheaper-than-expected sale. They have a huge summer rebuild of their own to fund, but that may indeed swing things in Arsenal’s favour in getting the Hammers to decrease the price a bit.
However, such a price is the going rate of world-class midfield operators these days and it certainly seems reasonable from the West Ham United perspective.