Arsenal are closing in on a £100million deal to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice this summer. football.london reported in January that the Gunners are prioritising a move for the 24-year-old as Mikel Arteta targets two new midfield signings ahead of next season.
Rice has played his final game for the Hammers with chairman David Sullivan revealing that the east Londoners will sell their star midfielder. Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have all registered an interest in signing the England international, but Arsenal look set to beat their rivals to his signature.
A report from the Guardian stated that the Gunners are closing in on an agreement with West Ham to sign Rice and are expected to complete a deal that will cost upwards of £100million, should add-ons included in the transfer be met. Speaking on talkSPORT earlier this month, Sullivan said: "I think it has to be [Rice's final game for West Ham].
"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.
"It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago.
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"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."
Rice has spent six years at the London Stadium and will end his time with the Hammers by writing himself into club history after lifting the Europa Conference League trophy in his last appearance. The England international rose through the ranks to become a crucial player for West Ham and despite his importance to the team - he did not change his shirt number and has now made the No.41 an iconic jersey at the club.
If he wishes to keep the same number at Arsenal it will likely be given to him with Under-23s talent Maruo Bandeira currently holding the No.41 at the club. Rice has not worn any other shirt number during his senior career at club level and he could continue to wear his iconic No.41 at Arsenal next season.
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