Arsenal look set to blow Chelsea and Manchester United out of the water in the race to sign Declan Rice. The 24-year-old midfielder has been heavily linked with an exit from West Ham this summer after leading the Hammers to European glory.
Despite the arrival of Jorginho in January, football.london understand that the Gunners had already identified Rice as a priority early this year. It's also understood that the England international remains a key target for the Blues though, without a Champions League qualification place, a move to west London has looked unlikely.
Rice sees his contract at the London Stadium expire in 2024, but West Ham are believed to hold the option to extend his stay by a further 12 months. The Hammers were initially reluctant to let go of their captain, but after the Europa Conference League final David Sullivan left the door open to his departure.
The West Ham chairman said: "I think it has to be [Rice's final game for West Ham]. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.
"You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season. In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements.
"It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down. It’s cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time [in lost wages[. And he wants to go. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there."
And, it seems that Arsenal have wasted no time in wrapping up a deal following Sullivan's comments. According to The Guardian, the Gunners are 'close' to reaching an agreement with West Ham, and Edu is expected to pay more than £100million for Rice if all add-ons are achieved.
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That would make the Englishman the most expensive player in the club's history. The Guardian clarify that the Gunners are yet to submit a bid but negotiations are progressing well and there is confidence among the north Londoners that a deal will soon be finalised.
Earlier this week, a video of Rice downplaying an exit from West Ham went viral on social media. When asked by a young fan where he would like to go this summer, he replied: "Nowhere, I'm West Ham. I don't, West Ham is my one."
The video was posted by TikTok user Virajplays4, who claims that it had been filmed on Saturday.
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