Arsenal have been handed another indication that Declan Rice could be heading to north London this summer as Bayern Munich are reportedly growing increasingly pessemistic of landing the English midfielder this summer.
It had been claimed that the West Ham midfielder, who lifted the UEFA Conference League trophy on Wednesday, could be persuaded to leave London in favour of Munich, with the German Champions and Thomas Tuchel both very keen on the 24-year-old amid concerns about the future of Joshua Kimmich.
Prague, Czechia. 07th June, 2023. Declan Rice of West Ham United celebrates with the trophy after the UEFA Conference League Final match between Fiorentina and West Ham United at Fortuna Arena on June 7th 2023 in Prague, Czechia. (Photo by Daniel Chestert 2R697B5 Prague, Czechia. 07th June, 2023. Declan Rice of West Ham United celebrates with the trophy after the UEFA Conference League Final match between Fiorentina and West Ham United at Fortuna Arena on June 7th 2023 in Prague, Czechia. (Photo by Daniel Chesterton/phcimages.com) Credit: PHC Images/Alamy Live News (Alamy Stock Photo)
It is thought that West Ham will look to hold out for over £100m for their captain, but West Ham owner David Sullivan has already confirmed that Rice will be on his way out this summer.
“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.
It is Arsenal that appear to be leading the race, though, with the Gunners having made him their no.1 target and able to offer the incentive of living in London, where he has spent all of his life.
That news seems to have reached Bavaria too.
It is added that though they are ‘still in contact with his management’, a move is looking less likely than it perhaps could have been two weeks ago.
That news will come as a major boost to Arsenal fans, with Manchester United also out of the race for financial reasons and Chelsea seemingly looking elsewhere this summer, leaving the Gunners with a free run at Rice.