West Ham has turned down Arsenal’s second bid of £90m for Declan Rice, a sum that would have set a new club record for the Gunners. The proposed fee consisted of a guaranteed £75m and an additional £15m in add-ons, surpassing the £72m spent on Nicolas Pepe in 2019. Arsenal intended to pay the initial amount over four years and the add-ons over five years if met successfully.
However, this offer is still significantly lower than West Ham’s £120m valuation. The east London club may consider a lower price if a player is included in the transaction. Despite the rejection, negotiations continue between the two clubs, and Arsenal remains optimistic about reaching an agreement. Manchester City and Manchester United have also expressed interest in the 24-year-old midfielder but arsenal remain clear favorites according to the bookies at this moment.
During the January transfer window, Arsenal made bids for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and eventually signed Jorginho from cross-town rivals Chelsea. Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta, who primarily relied on Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard as his midfielders last season, is determined to bolster this area on the field.
Arsenal’s interest in Declan Rice was further piqued during their 2-2 draw with West Ham at the London Stadium in April. The Gunners were leading by two goals, but Rice’s quick thinking altered the game’s outcome, demonstrating the value he could bring as a potential record signing.
