Hidden Arsenal transfer clauses that could derail Declan Rice pursuit come to light
Arsenal’s strong pursuit of Declan Rice may face obstacles due to the release of their latest financial records.
The speculation surrounding the future of the West Ham star has been ongoing, with reports suggesting that a move to Arsenal is his preferred choice.
Rice recently led West Ham to victory in the Europa Conference League, seemingly bidding a fitting farewell to the club’s fans while celebrating his first major trophy.
Owner David Sullivan has confirmed that the English international will be allowed to leave this summer, as he had previously rejected a lucrative contract extension.
It is anticipated that any transfer deal for the 24-year-old midfielder will fetch West Ham a sum exceeding £80 million.
The pursuit of Declan Rice by Manchester United and Bayern Munich may be influenced by a recent development that has come to light.
Despite Mikel Arteta‘s assurance of reinforcements as Arsenal prepares for a return to the Champions League next season, the potential financial implications involved in the deal could pose a hurdle.
According to a report in The Times, Arsenal currently has outstanding debts of approximately £150 million from past transfer agreements, as indicated in their recent financial accounts. Moreover, this amount is likely to be even higher as it includes deals conducted during the last two transfer windows.
These financial obligations could impact the amount of funds available to Arteta for player acquisitions ahead of the 2023/34 season, despite the boost provided by their second-place finish in the Premier League last season. While Declan Rice remains a target, the Spanish manager initially aimed to bring in a series of new signings.
According to reports, Arsenal has reached a personal agreement with Brighton player Moises Caicedo, although they face strong competition from Chelsea in securing his signature. Additionally, Arsenal has been linked with a potential move for Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan, who will be a free agent next month as his contract expires.
As for Rice, he’s remained tight lipped on his next destination : “It’s not goodbye yet, there’s loads of speculation about my future and there is interest from other clubs, but look, nothing’s happened. I’m a West Ham player, I’ve still got two years left on my contract,” he told BT Sport after the final.
“I love every minute of playing for this club and captaining this club, you can see the smile on my face. It’s not about that tonight, it’s about us celebrating. Let’s wait and see what happens.”
Hidden Arsenal transfer clauses that could derail Declan Rice pursuit come to light