After West Ham's success in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday night, it is only a matter of time before Arsenal submit their first bid for Declan Rice. The England international, who lifted the trophy in Prague following Jarrod Bowen's dramatic late winner, is the Gunners' number one target this summer as they seek to prepare the squad for the challenge of Champions League football.
Arsenal were keen to be respectful to both Rice and West Ham in the run up to the Conference League final and chose to hold off on making a formal offer until the the match with Fiorentina had been played. It is expected now, though, that they will make a formal approach the 24-year-old in the coming days, with West Ham chairman David Sullivan having confirmed on Thursday that Rice will leave this summer.
"I think it has to be [Rice's final game for West Ham]," he told talkSPORT. "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.
