Arsenal have submitted a club record transfer offer for West Ham United captain Declan Rice, football.london understands, as they look to complete their first signing of the summer. The Gunners made Rice their priority target ahead of next season and have seen off competition from Premier League champions Manchester City in the race to sign the 24-year-old.
Arsenal had already seen two bids for the England international rejected by David Moyes’s side this month, the most recent of which was £75 million with an additional £15m in add-ons. City then decided to enter the race to sign the England international, sending an offer of £80m plus £10m of add-ons with a more favourable payment structure - but this was swiftly rejected by the Hammers.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed that West Ham want the £100m fee offered by Arsenal paid over just 18 months while the North Londoners' offer was over four years. Writing on Twitter, Romano said: "This is the final point being discussed between Arsenal and West Ham for Declan Rice…
"Arsenal offer to pay £100m fixed fee in four years. West Ham want £100m fixed fee to be paid in 18 months."
If a deal for Rice is completed, it will by far exceed Arsenal's previous transfer record which currently stands at the £72m they paid for Nicolas Pepe back in the summer of 2019. It may also see the England international become the second-highest earner at the Emirates Stadium behind Gabriel Jesus.
A report from the Daily Star last month stated that Rice currently earns £60,000-a-week at the London Stadium, with his salary expected to quadruple to £240,000-a-week at Arsenal. The increase would see him become the Gunners second-highest paid player behind Jesus, according to reports.
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It is thought that Rice has his heart set on a move to north London to play for Arteta next season. The Gunners have made plenty of progress by tying down Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel Magalhaes to long-term deals, but it seems Rice would earn more than all four players if a move is agreed.
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