Fresh twist: Arsenal to miss out on Declan Rice as Bayern Munich deal ‘close’ in rapid transfer turn
Arsenal could be in a difficult situation as they might not be able to secure one of Mikel Arteta’s priority signings. Recent reports suggest that Declan Rice is nearing a potential summer move to Bayern Munich, which means the West Ham captain, who had declined a contract extension, is likely to reject offers from other top Premier League clubs. Instead, he seems inclined to join the German champions, indicating a potential disappointment for Arsenal.
Despite having just one year remaining on his contract, Declan Rice has been valued at approximately £100m by West Ham. The midfielder has declined offers to extend his current deal, prompting the Hammers to capitalize on his transfer.
There have been strong links between Rice and a potential summer move to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, as Mikel Arteta seeks a new central midfielder to replace Granit Xhaka, who is set to leave the club.
However, according to transfer expert Jose Felix Diaz, Rice’s transfer to Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena is now imminent. The unexpected move would see the 24-year-old joining Thomas Tuchel’s side in Germany.
On Friday, it has been reported that Declan Rice’s representatives had a meeting with officials from Bayern Munich in London to discuss a potential move. During the meeting, the midfielder apparently received a positive impression and was made to feel that he could envision himself signing for the German club.
According to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany, the meeting between Bayern and West Ham was described as ‘positive,’ indicating that Bayern Munich is progressing towards making an official offer.
Although it has not been confirmed whether West Ham has received a bid, Bayern is prepared to intensify their efforts in pursuing the midfielder. Previously, when Thomas Tuchel was the coach of Chelsea, he attempted to sign the player, but West Ham resisted their attempts. Now, as the new coach at Bayern Munich since March, Tuchel is reportedly leading the charge to secure the deal.
West Ham is finding it increasingly difficult to ward off Champions League teams as Declan Rice expresses his desire to move to a larger club. The club would likely prefer to sell him to a foreign team rather than facing him in the Premier League next season.
This situation could complicate matters for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who may need to shift his focus towards alternative midfield targets. In the past, Arsenal attempted to sign Moises Caicedo in January, but all three bids for the Ecuadorian were rejected by Brighton.
Another potential option as a backup is Martin Zubimendi, a standout player from Real Sociedad, who has a release clause of £51m in his contract.
However, if Arsenal fails to secure Rice, who is widely regarded as one of the most consistent players in the Premier League, it would be a setback for their efforts to strengthen their squad during the summer transfer window.
Fresh twist: Arsenal to miss out on Declan Rice as Bayern Munich deal ‘close’ in rapid transfer turn