Arsenal have seen their first bid for West Ham skipper Declan Rice rejected as they attempt to lure him to the Emirates Stadium this summer, but could face late competition from Manchester City for his signature.
The Gunners have made Rice their no.1 target this summer as they look to prioritise rebuilding their midfield, and were thought to be heavy favourites to land the West Ham man, who is expected to complete a move away from the club this month.
A deal broadly worth £100m, a record transfer for both sides, had been agreed and now the reliable David Ornstein has revealed that a first bid for the 24-year-old England star has officially been submitted by Mikel Arteta’s side.
However, this has been swiftly rejected, with West Ham keen to hold out for more money and a greater chunk up front for their star man. Arsenal have indicated that they are willing to spend in excess of £100m to complete a deal, though it is unclear how much their first bid consisted of.
There are no doubts that he will leave this summer though.
“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”, he told radio station TalkSport after the UEFA Conference League win.
Manchester City are also exploring a potential deal for the West Ham midfielder, although their interest is thought to be far less advanced than Arsenal’s.
Currently on international duty, Rice appeared 37 times for the Hammers in the Premier League last season, helping them narrowly avoid relegation.
