For months now, Arsenal have been linked with West Ham captain Declan Rice and these links have become stronger as we near the end of the season.
Rice is a top target on the Gunners’ summer shopping list and they are ready to break their transfer record to land the 24-year-old England international.
Arsenal’s current transfer record is £72 million for Nicolas Pepe who joined from Lille in 2019 but now reports suggest that the club is ready to pay as much as £90 million for Rice once the transfer window opens in July.
Arsenal are also preparing to pay Rice a hefty salary of £300,000 per week once he signs what is believed to be a long-term contract.
However, serious negotiations will have to take place between Arsenal and West Ham because the Hammers value Rice to be worth over £100 million and are ready to sell him to anyone who meets that valuation.
West Ham are 15th on the table and need only one point from the remaining two matches against either Leeds United or Leicester City who are 18th and 19th respectively to save their Premier League status. Declan Rice is expected to be instrumental in these two crucial ties.
Although the Premier League title has slipped away in the run-in, Arsenal have already qualified for the Champions League next season and are now looking at strengthening their squad, especially in midfield so that’s where Rice comes in.
Rice still has a contract with West Ham until June 2024 and after refusing an extension last year, West Ham will allow him to leave this summer.
In addition to Rice, Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and Bayer Leverkusen attacker Moussa Diaby are among the players Arsenal are reportedly targeting this summer.
