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Football London
Football London
Sport
Tom Canton

Arsenal still hold key to Declan Rice transfer despite Man City preparing rival bid

Arsenal will sign Declan Rice if they match the figure that West Ham want for the player football.london understands regardless of Manchester City's attempts. Suggestions of a bid by the Gunners’ main rivals for Rice, Manchester City, are understood to be premature but that an offer is imminent as is a third from Arsenal.

Rice’s preference remains Arsenal but should West Ham agree a deal with the Citizens that Mikel Arteta’s side cannot match, the England international is open to making the switch to the treble winners. In short, the Gunners need to come to an agreement with the Hammers over an acceptable price which is expected to be beyond the £100million threshold or with a significant amount of any guaranteed fee upfront, to aid in finding a replacement.

Rice has finished duty with England and is waiting to find out the next stage of the process, amid the next bids from Arsenal and Manchester City. Manchester United are also not completely out of the picture either, as they remained informed on the situation.

Should Arsenal fail to sign the midfielder, there are sure to be serious questions as to why they were unsuccessful. Mikel Arteta, Edu Gaspar and the ownership will all be in focus, and scrutiny will potential, reach new heights since the failures to land Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo in the previous January transfer window.

Caicedo remains a target football.london understands, and the Gunners could look to revive their efforts to sign him although Chelsea are in advanced talks with the Ecuador international over a move to Stamford Bridge. Arsenal need to move fast and purposefully if they are to land their primary midfield target of the summer.

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