Declan Rice sent warning over Arsenal move
Jamie Carragher is of the opinion that Declan Rice will achieve great success at Arsenal, although he cautions that joining the Emirates Stadium does not guarantee winning any trophies.
Arsenal is nearing an agreement with West Ham United for the transfer of their club captain, which would make him the most expensive signing in Arsenal’s history, costing approximately £100 million inclusive of additional payments.
Declan Rice, who represents England internationally, has been highly sought-after by several Premier League clubs for several seasons, with long-standing interest from Manchester United and Chelsea. Bayern Munich has also identified him as a target for the upcoming summer transfer window.
Despite the competition, Rice has expressed his readiness to join Arsenal, as Mikel Arteta views him as a player who can contribute to the team’s pursuit of another Premier League title challenge. Arsenal aims to further close the gap with Manchester City in the upcoming season.
Last season, Manchester City engaged in an exhilarating title battle with Arsenal, eventually surpassing them to claim the Premier League crown. City’s remarkable achievements continued as they went on to secure a historic treble by winning the FA Cup and the Champions League.
Considering City’s dominant performances, Jamie Carragher suggests that they are the only team capable of guaranteeing success for players seeking a transfer this summer.
However, Carragher firmly believes that Declan Rice’s addition to Arsenal’s squad will enable the Gunners to elevate their performance and compete at a higher level.
“It is difficult with Declan Rice, and I think Harry Kane falls into this one too, they are at clubs that probably aren’t going to challenge for the Premier League or Champions League,’ Carragher, who appears alongside Gary Neville and Roy Keane on The Overlap on Tour this week, told Metro.co.uk.
“But unless you go to Man City, there is no guarantee you are going to come out with trophies that you want.
“But you want to give yourself the opportunity and the tough question for Arsenal heading into next season is whether this was a one off or whether they can be consistent and challenging the biggest sides because it hasn’t happened for a long time.
“I always felt he [Rice] would end up at Chelsea, but he could go to Arsenal and it could go great for him. He’s a step up from what they’ve got but there is no guarantee he will go onto win the biggest trophies with them.
“It is so competitive now. I think he’s at the age now where he has got to go and show himself as one of the outstanding midfielders in European football so he has to make that move.
“To make that next step, like Jude Bellingham did when he was a bit younger when he joined Dortmund… Arsenal would be a really good fit for him and he will certainly step them up a level.”
Declan Rice sent warning over Arsenal move