Arsenal are today working to finalise their £105million move for Declan Rice.
The Gunners have agreed a fee with West Ham for the midfielder, which is an initial £100m, plus £5m in add-ons.
But the clubs are still ironing out the finer details of the deal and how the initial £100m will be paid.
West Ham want it paid within the first two years, while Arsenal want to spread the cost out over four years.
There is confidence that a compromise can be reached and Arsenal have a clear run at Rice after Manchester City pulled out of the race to sign the England international on Wednesday.
Personal terms with Rice are not expected to be an issue and his signing will continue a £200m spending spree at Arsenal, who on Wednesday night completed the £65m signing of Kai Havertz from Chelsea and are also working on a deal for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber. The Gunners hope to seal a deal worth around £40m for Timber early next month.
Rice is currently on holiday and would also need to undergo a medical before sealing his move to the Emirates Stadium. But Arsenal are confident that they will secure a deal to sign Mikel Arteta’s top summer transfer target.
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Rice has two years left on his contract at West Ham and this summer represented the last chance for the Hammers to bank a big transfer fee for the 24-year-old. The initial fee for Rice equals the British record Manchester City paid for midfielder Jack Grealish in 2021 — and could exceed it if the add-ons are achieved.
Earlier this month, Jude Bellingham signed for Real Madrid for an initial £88.5m, although that deal could reach £115m if add-ons are activated.
Arsenal have seen off interest from City in Rice. The Treble winners had an offer of £80m, plus £10m in add-ons, rejected by West Ham and decided not to match Arsenal’s latest offer.
