Arsenal and Chelsea are both interested in signing West Ham United captain Declan Rice this summer, football.london understands.
Rice is into the final 15 months of his contract with the Hammers, although David Moyes' side do have the option to extend his deal by a further year at the end of the current campaign. football.london understands that the 24-year-old is Mikel Arteta's priority transfer target ahead of the summer window, with London rivals Chelsea also keen to prise the midfielder away from the London Stadium.
So with that being said, we've taken a look at everything we know regarding Rice's future in east London ahead of what is set to be an interesting summer transfer window.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta should follow Pep Guardiola blueprint amid Arsenal's huge £13m transfer decision
Official bid timeline
Arsenal are starting to put together their first official bid for West Ham's Declan Rice with a formal offer expected to arrive soon, as per Fabrizio Romano.
In his latest YouTube video, the Italian transfer guru said: "The conversations for Rice are continuing because Arsenal now want to prepare an official bid in the next weeks."
Xhaka exit
Arsenal could already be making room for Rice in the midfield, with the news that Granit Xhaka looks set to leave the club.
football.london understands the Gunners star is in advanced talks over a move to Bayer Leverkusen, with a deal set at around £13million.
West Ham decision
West Ham have seemingly set the exact date they would be willing to enter negotiations to sell star man Declan Rice this summer, according to a new report.
The Hammers are almost mathematically safe from relegation which could see the club increase their asking price for the 24-year-old.
Although there remains not much left to play for in their Premier League campaign, David Moyes's side are in the Europa Conference League semi-final. As per the Evening Standard, West Ham plan to delay talks for Rice until their European adventure is over which could be as late as June 7 which is when the final is set to take place.
A 2-1 first leg win against AZ Alkmaar has put the Hammers in control of the tie with the second leg in the Netherlands set for Thursday, May 18.
£120m price tag?
West Ham have slapped a £120million price tag on Rice, as per Sky Sports.
It is claimed that the Hammers could also accept an offer of £100million plus a player for the England international, with his most likely destination said to be Arsenal. The report also added that Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have all shown interest in the tough-tackling midfielder as well.
Matteo Guendouzi impact
According to The Athletic, West Ham are interested in signing Marseille star and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi as a possible replacement for Rice. The Gunners, Newcastle and Manchester United are said to be keen to prise the 24-year-old away from east London this summer, with the Hammers eyeing up Guendouzi as a potential successor.
The Frenchman's time at the Emirates Stadium ended on a sour note after he fell out with Arteta towards the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
Price stumbling block
According to the Daily Mail, Rice is open to joining the Gunners now they have qualified for next season’s Champions League, although it is claimed that West Ham's £100million valuation of their star player may prove to be a stumbling block.
Arsenal's current transfer record is the £72million they paid for Nicolas Pepe back in the summer of 2019, a move that ultimately failed to meet expectations. The most they have spent on a player during Arteta's time as manager is the £50 million they shelled out for defender Ben White two years ago.
White has undoubtedly been a success at the Emirates Stadium, establishing himself as one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League this season.
Mikel Arteta plans face-to-face talks
Mikel Arteta wants to hold talks with Declan Rice as soon as the season ends, according to The Mirror. The Arsenal boss is increasingly confident he can land the West Ham midfielder despite the Gunners’ faltering title bid.
The report adds that Arsenal’s head coach, who used to play in midfield himself, believes he can help convince the £100million-rated star to move to the Emirates Stadium ahead of Premier League rival interest. Arteta will urge the Gunners to make an official approach once the season has ended to try to tee up a huge transfer when the window opens in June.
Bayern claim
As per German transfer expert Christian Falk, reports claiming that Rice's agent met Bayern Munich representatives are wide off the mark.
Writing on Twitter, Falk said: "It is NOT TRUE (red X emoji) that the Agent of @_DeclanRice met the bosses of @FCBayern for negotiations last week @WestHam @Arsenal @ChelseaFC."
Arsenal advantage
According to the Evening Standard, there is 'optimism' at the Emirates Stadium that Arsenal will sign the midfielder ahead of the likes of Chelsea and United. However, the report goes on to suggest that the recent valuations of Enzo Fernandez, Jude Bellingham and Moises Caicedo will be used as a benchmark when deciding a price tag for the Hammers skipper.
West Ham contract twist
Declan Rice could be set for a huge change to his West Ham contract as the Telegraph reports that should the Hammers get relegated this season, a number of their players could be set for a pay cut to their contracts due to a relegation clause. It is unclear if Rice is one of those, though the report states that a transfer exit in the coming months remains likely.
Jack Wilshere message
Arsenal Under-18s head coach Jack Wilshere has sent a tongue-in-cheek message on Instagram to West Ham United captain Declan Rice.
The Hammers secured a 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, with Rice netting his first Premier League goal of the season in the process. Wilshere then took to social media after the match, commenting "finally" on the midfielder's Instagram post, presumably joking about the England international's lack of goals this term.
The pair played alongside each other at West Ham for two years before Wilshere eventually left east London in 2020 and they could be reunited at the Emirates Stadium soon enough if Arsenal are able to sign Rice this summer. football.london understands that the 24-year-old is the north Londoners' primary transfer target ahead of the summer window.
Rice warning
Emmanuel Frimpong has sent a message to his old club regarding Rice. "I would not say Declan Rice is overrated but I'd definitely say he's overpriced," he told Midnite.
"I think Rice is a very good player and very consistent, but he's in a struggling West Ham team. Put him in a thriving Arsenal side that is playing very well, you will see a different Rice.
"He is overpriced, but so is everyone, just look at what Enzo Fernandez went for. I just think it's crazy money for someone like Rice. If he does come to Arsenal, then he definitely has a chance to play at a much higher level, especially in competitions like the Champions League.
"Rice is a good player but I would not say he's one of the best midfielders. I would not rate him in the top five defensive midfielders in the Premier League, but that doesn't mean he is not a very good player."
Jude Bellingham factor
Despite the promising signs ahead of the summer, the north Londoners are well behind the likes of Liverpool, City and United when it comes to pursuing a deal for Jude Bellingham. According to The Athletic, the Gunners are admirers of the 19-year-old but his £150million price tag is likely to be just out of their price range as they search for a new central midfielder this summer.
This may be one reason why sporting director Edu Gaspar is prioritising a move for Rice. The 24-year-old's contract with the Hammers is set to expire in 2024 meaning this summer represents the last opportunity for West Ham to receive a significant transfer fee for the midfielder - who has rejected approaches from the club regarding signing a new deal to stay at the London Stadium.
Transfer meeting
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal recently held a transfer meeting where a summer move for Rice was heavily discussed. Speaking about the Gunners' failed move for Chelsea new-boy Mykhailo Mudryk the House of Champions YouTube channel, Romano said: “I’m told that right after the Mudryk story, Arsenal had a meeting.
"A meeting planning for the present – (Leandro) Trossard, (Jakub) Kiwior and more – and the future. And in that meeting, Declan Rice was mentioned also as a possibility, a player they really like.”
Real Madrid rejection
Spanish outlet Nacional, via Football365, have reported that Rice has rejected interest from Spanish side Real Madrid, telling the La Liga giants that he has already given 'his word' to Arsenal regarding a summer move.
Their report also claims that the England international, who is now into the final 18 months of his contract with the Hammers, will become the north London club's most expensive signing in their history, with a deal likely to cost more than the £72million they paid for Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe back in 2019.
Arsenal favoured
As per The Guardian, Rice is currently leaning towards a move to the Gunners because of the prospect of playing for head coach Mikel Arteta. The north London outfit are said to have made Rice their primary summer target, with the West Ham captain seen as the perfect candidate to challenge first-choice holding midfielder Thomas Partey and box-to-box maestro Granit Xhaka.
The idea of working under Arteta also appeals to Rice and the Spaniard has done a stellar job this season, guiding his side to the top of the table, five points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, who have played a game more than their title rivals.
Rice drops Arsenal transfer hints to teammates
According to CBS Sports, Rice has been speaking of Arsenal in glowing terms to his teammates, pronouncing himself stunned with the progress the north London side has made. The English midfielder labelled the Gunners as "a top team" and admitted Arsenal are "coached incredibly well" after West Ham's 3-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.
Rice and his representatives have been planning for a move away for the Hammers, who are currently battling against relegation from the Premier League, with his contract set to expire next summer. The 24-year-old has rejected a new deal at the London Stadium on numerous occasions as looks to finally seal a move away from West Ham.
Arsenal interest
Arsenal have made Rice their "top target" for the summer transfer window, reports the Times. The Gunners continue to be linked with opportunities to strengthen their midfield, with the report claiming that there is a "growing confidence" they could get a deal done to land the 24-year-old.
Champions League admission
While on World Cup duty with England, Rice admitted that he wants to play in the Champions League, further hinting at a transfer move: "One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League. For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that.
"I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.”
Price tag
Manchester United were said to be put off paying over £150million for Rice last summer, however with his contract dwindling, that price may have dropped further. According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the Hammers could cash in on their captain for £70million in the summer transfer window.
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