In-demand West Ham United star midfielder Declan Rice is set for arguably the biggest week of his life as the Hammers are in the midst of preparations to clash with Serie A side Fiorentina in the final of the Europa Conference League.
Should David Moyes lead the London side to continental success, it would be the club’s first major honor since their 1999 win in the now-defunct UEFA Intertoto Cup, and the first major piece of silverware of Rice’s career.
But even an even more critical moment in the immediate aftermath of the result at Prague’s Fortuna Arena comes by way of Rice answering the question of where he will ply his trade next season, with the 24-year-old guaranteed to depart London Stadium in the summer.
Despite Arsenal’s serious interest in the player, with many of the opinion that the England international is almost guaranteed to move across London to the Emirates, German giants Bayern Munich are set to attempt to steal a march on Mikel Arteta’s Gunners to swoop in and bring rice to Bavaria after reports from Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg suggest Rice is now open to a potential switch to the Bundesliga.
❗️News #Rice: The meeting with him in London was positive! Rice has given the feeling that he can well imagine a move to Bayern!
➡️ Bosses have discussed him in the last days again
➡️ Bayern want to prepare an official offer as their next step
➡️ Tuchel main driver.… pic.twitter.com/ys7bRl76D9— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) June 2, 2023
Per Plettenberg’s report, an apparent meeting between Rice and Bayern recently took place as the club’s brass continue to discuss the possibility of moving for the player, while new boss Thomas Tuchel remains a “main driver” in the pursuit of the Hammers captain.
Given the possibility that Leon Goretzka could possibly leave the Allianz Arena in the summer, it is of vital importance to the German club that they being in a big name to deploy alongside Joshua Kimmich moving forward, with Bayern viewing Rice as the ideal defensive midfielder for their needs.
For Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar, it is vitally important that the Gunners move swiftly and with real intent if they are to get their man this summer.
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