Sir Kenny Dalglish shares verdict as Declan Rice gets ready to quit West Ham United for Arsenal
Sir Kenny Dalglish feels Arsenal have “completed a good piece of business” in the £105million deal to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice.
Reports suggest the structure of the deal will see the Gunners pay £100m in guaranteed money by 2025, with a potential further £5m in add-ons (the Guardian, 4 July).
Having fallen away in the title race last term, Liverpool and Rangers legend Dalglish thinks Rice is a signing that could help the Gunners reach the next level.
Dalglish wrote in the Sunday Post (9 July, back page pull of pull out): “Arsenal completed a good piece of business with the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham.
“The transfer fee of about £105 million is a record deal between two British clubs. Jack Grealish held that tag for a wee while when he joined Manchester City from Aston Villa. Now his England team-mate holds it.
“Declan was terrific for the Hammers for the past three years and led them to the Europa Conference League last year. He really helped to drive the team on with his energy, quality and organisational skills.
“The Gunners came up a bit short in their quest to win the Premier League last season but they will feel Declan’s arrival can take them on.
“With Granit Xhaka away to Bayer Leverkusen for around £20m, the timing of the moves has fallen into place.”
Rice a terrific signing
We now live in a world where £100+ plus signings are becoming the norm.
It is not right that that is the case in all truth, no player should command such eye-watering sums. But everyone knows by now that football economics is different to any other economics.
Moreover, there has always been a premium on England internationals especially when it comes to domestic deals, so by the murky laws of said football economics, £100+ is fair value for the West Ham captain.
While you could debate the merits of that until the cows come home, what is not up for debate is the fact that Arsenal are buying a supreme talent in Declan Rice.
He is a player who all the elite clubs would have loved to have added to their ranks, indeed champions Manchester City did want to add him to their ranks but – perhaps somewhat wisely – did not want to enter into a bidding war.
In other West Ham news, a pundit has shared their view on West Ham’s pursuit of Harvey Barnes.