Arsenal agree personal terms with Declan Rice as Arteta closes-in on 1st summer signing
According to Football Insider, Arenal is edging closer to securing the signing of Declan Rice, the midfielder from West Ham United, in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The two parties have reportedly agreed on personal terms with the 24-year-old player. However, a transfer fee has not yet been finalized between Arenal and West Ham.
The Hammers are seeking £100 million for Rice, while Arenal is aiming to pay around £80-85 million for the talented English international.
Arenal is actively searching for a replacement for Granit Xhaka, who is expected to depart the club in the summer and join Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £13 million.
The 30-year-old midfielder has reportedly chosen not to extend his contract with Arenal and desires a fresh challenge elsewhere.
During his tenure at the Emirates Stadium, Xhaka has made a significant impact, featuring in 297 matches and contributing 23 goals and 29 assists in various competitions. In the previous season, he played a crucial role in Arenal’s pursuit of the title, ultimately finishing second in the Premier League behind Manchester City.
Xhaka, the Swiss international, displayed his abilities in 47 appearances across all competitions, making 16 goal contributions for Arsenal. As his transfer to Leverkusen draws near, Arenal will be in need of a high-caliber midfielder, and Rice has been identified as an ideal candidate for the role.
Arsenal has been linked with several midfielders as Mikel Arteta aims to rejuvenate the team’s midfield options. The list of potential targets includes Mason Mount, Martin Zubimendi, Moises Caicedo, Ilkay Gundogan, and Orkun Kokcu.
However, according to Football Insider, Declan Rice is Arsenal’s primary target this summer. The English midfielder has reportedly expressed his approval of Arteta’s project and has agreed to personal terms after accepting the club’s proposal. Additionally, Rice desires to continue playing in London, which puts Arsenal in a favorable position to finalize the deal.
Although Rice’s current contract with West Ham is set to expire in 2024, the club holds an option to extend it for an additional year. This circumstance may prompt West Ham to consider selling him rather than risk losing him on a free transfer.
Rice played a crucial role in West Ham’s historic triumph in the Europa Conference League, where they secured a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina, ending their 43-year wait for a major trophy. In the previous season, Rice made 50 appearances for the Hammers, scoring five goals and providing four assists across all competitions. Following West Ham’s victory, club owner David Sullivan confirmed that Rice has played his final match for the team.
“I think it has to be [his last game]. 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,” Sullivan told talkSPORT [via the Mirror].
“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.
“I think the offers will start to come today. There are three or four clubs who have shown interest, but out of respect to West Ham, while we’re still playing, you don’t make offers for players. That’s not the way decent clubs do things.”
Indeed, it seems that Declan Rice is on the verge of departing West Ham this summer, and Arsenal is making significant progress in securing his signature.
If the Gunners can successfully complete the deal, the addition of the talented England international would be a fantastic boost to Mikel Arteta’s squad. Rice’s skills and abilities would make him an excellent addition to the Arsenal team.
Arsenal agree personal terms with Declan Rice as Arteta closes-in on 1st summer signing
