Arsenal launch record £105m Declan Rice transfer bid as they look to beat Man City – but West Ham ‘not happy’ with offer
WEST HAM have told Arsenal to improve the payment terms on their stunning £105m bid for Declan Rice – or risk scuppering the deal.
SunSport understands Hammers chiefs remain frustrated at the length of time the Gunners want to pay the fee over – and are not ready to accept the mega offer just yet.
Negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing in an attempt to iron out those terms, with sources suggesting reducing the payment timeframe by a year or two could swing it.
Arsenal will be wary that Manchester City are breathing down their necks, who themselves had an £80m plus £10m in add-ons bid for Rice rejected on Tuesday morning.
West Ham will be hopeful of yet another bidding battle between Arsenal and City should the latter wish to match the six-figure offer for their 24-year-old skipper.
The East Londoners have been banking on receiving a fee worth more than the £106m British transfer record Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez last summer.
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However, £105m is set to be accepted should Arsenal compromise on their payment terms – making England international Rice the most expensive player in British history.
City’s £100m move for Jack Grealish from Aston Villa in August 2021 was the previous record – and they must now break it again should they wish to land Rice this window.
Pep Guardiola’s side entered the race on Monday evening with their £90m bid and are contemplating whether to respond to Arsenal’s bold move.
City are keen to replace Ilkay Gundogan following his recent switch to Barcelona.
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Rice’s preferred destination has always been North London under boss Mikel Arteta, despite his admiration for Guardiola and their trophy haul.
Rice was open to moving his family up north to Manchester had Arsenal refused to budge on their initial offers, but that is now not the case.
The player is currently on holiday, and was not expected back at West Ham training for another two weeks following his England exploits.
Arteta wanted Rice’s switch wrapped up before they head off on their own tour to the States, their opening game coming on July 20, and looks close to getting his way.
Rice is desperate for a change of scenery after guiding West Ham to Europa Conference League glory in Prague.
Following that final, owner David Sullivan revealed he could leave.
Rice’s current deal expires in June 2024 with a club option to extend that by 12 months.
He rejected several offers from West Ham to extend that deal over the past 18 months, with the chance to earn over £200k-a-week.
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