Declan Rice move to Arsenal may come at a cost as West Ham ‘eye shock deal’ for Gunners ace
Mikel Arteta may face consequences if Arsenal proceeds with their pursuit of Declan Rice. According to reports, West Ham has expressed interest in acquiring Emile Smith Rowe as part of the agreement, potentially allowing their captain to join the Emirates.
Arsenal has identified Declan Rice as their primary target for the summer transfer window. The Gunners have been optimistic about securing a deal for the English midfielder for several months now.
According to reports from Express Sport, Arsenal is preparing an initial bid of approximately £90m, while West Ham is seeking around £100m to part ways with Rice. Hammers chairman David Sullivan confirmed on Thursday that Rice will be permitted to leave during this transfer window.
Although other teams like Manchester United and Bayern Munich have also expressed interest in Rice, Arsenal might hold a crucial element that could facilitate an agreement.
According to The Sun, West Ham has expressed interest in acquiring the services of Smith Rowe, who has been somewhat overlooked by Mikel Arteta’s team this season.
The 22-year-old player faced a slow start after undergoing groin surgery, which caused him to miss the first half of the season. Consequently, he failed to secure a spot in Arteta’s lineup as they pursued their first Premier League title since 2004.
The article suggests that Arsenal is determined to retain Smith Rowe despite his limited playing time. Nevertheless, David Moyes, the manager of West Ham, holds a strong admiration for the English player.
Following their victory in the Europa Conference League on Wednesday, West Ham has secured a place in the Europa League for the upcoming season. Manager David Moyes is eager to bolster his team, considering the potential departure of Rice, which appears highly likely.
In their pursuit of signing Rice, Arsenal’s eagerness may force them to concede and permit Smith Rowe to depart. Despite having three years left on his contract with Arsenal, Smith Rowe’s potential departure could generate a significant transfer fee.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, is determined to retain Smith Rowe, as well as several other players in his squad, after the team’s qualification for the Champions League. Last month, the Spanish coach expressed his desire to maximize the potential of those players who have had limited playing time.
Arteta said: “First of all, be critical with ourselves, first with myself. My job is to get the best out of 24 players that we have available and I haven’t been able to do that. There are still players who have great potential and we haven’t been able to do that.
“There are different reasons, whether it’s injuries, whether it’s game time, whether I haven’t had the opportunity or we I haven’t been able to play them enough. We have to look for those margins because we have those margins and our job is to make them better.”
Declan Rice move to Arsenal may come at a cost as West Ham ‘eye shock deal’ for Gunners ace