Bayern Munich have pulled out of the race to sign Declan Rice as Arsenal are 'on the verge' of completing a transfer for the West Ham United captain.
That is according to German transfer guru Florian Plettenberg, who has claimed that Bayern decided on Tuesday not to submit an offer for the England international. Writing on Twitter, Plettenberg said: "News #Rice: NO transfer! Bayern has decided today not to submit an offer after all - confirmed.
"It was the clear trend for days and as reported on Friday, because Rice became more and more expensive. He’s on verge to join @Arsenal now! First call BILD. @SkySportDE."
football.london reported back in January that Rice was the Gunners' priority target for the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his midfield options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Following West Ham's UEFA Europa Conference League victory over Fiorentina last week, Hammers chairman David Sullivan confirmed that the 24-year-old had likely played his last match in a claret and blue shirt.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: "I think it has to be [Rice's final game for West Ham]. We promised him he could go.
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"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."
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