West Ham: Third Arsenal bid for Declan Rice has been communicated as update emerges
Arsenal have informed West Ham of their intention to make a third bid for Declan Rice, according to the Daily Mail.
The Mail’s Sami Mokbel reported that the third offer from the Gunners will move them closer to Rice’s £100million valuation.
The North London club have already had two bids rejected in their pursuit of the 24-year-old midfielder, while Manchester City also saw their offer of £80million plus £10million in add-ons knocked back on Tuesday (27 June).
Arsenal’s communication with the Hammers over their incoming third bid is viewed as a verbal offer. While the figure will reportedly be closer to the £100million David Sullivan and the board are asking for, the structure will be key.
West Ham would like the guaranteed part of any offer to be paid by the start of 2025, with Arsenal’s offers so far suggesting they would prefer to pay any fixed fee over five years.
Getting closer
Many will be desperate to see this transfer saga wrapped up once and for all.
Most West Ham fans will already be resigned to losing Rice and will want the deal to be concluded as swiftly as possible so that the club’s focus can switch to incomings.
For the board, however, dragging the deal out makes all the sense in the world. Manchester City’s offer has clearly spooked Arsenal with the Gunners now set to get closer to West Ham’s asking price in order to get a deal done.
However, while a verbal offer has been made, that is not yet formal, and there is no guarantee it will be accepted if the terms are not favourable. This third Arsenal bid could arrive tomorrow and it will be interesting to see how City react.
The back-and-forth nature of this transfer saga so far is only driving up Rice’s price and the West Ham board will be in no rush whatsoever.
Your move, Arsenal.
In other West Ham news, another academy graduate could be set to say goodbye this summer.