Arsenal are reportedly ‘prepared to break their transfer record’ to sign West Ham United central midfielder Declan Rice in the summer.
The Gunners have their tails up after beating their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in their own stadium on Sunday evening, which put them eight points clear at the top of the table in the Premier League.
They may have missed out on the signing of winger Mykhaylo Mudryk to Chelsea, but should still be active in the market to improve their squad, as they will likely qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season based on their league position.
Taking to Twitter, journalist Sami Mokbel has reported that the Emirates Stadium outfit will make a ‘serious play’ for Rice this summer, and are ‘prepared to break their transfer record’ to sign him:
“Arsenal will make a serious play for Declan Rice this summer and are prepared to break their transfer record to get him. West Ham want £100m. Chelsea want Rice, too. But Champions League football next season likely to be a factor.”
Writing in his corresponding article for The Daily Mail, Mokbel adds that although the Hammers would like £100m, they could sell Rice for £80m, which would still break Arsenal’s transfer record of £72m for Nicolas Pepe.
Rice’s desire is to play in the Champions League, and with Chelsea in 10th place in the table, Mikel Arteta’s side are in a better position for his signature.
TIF thoughts on Rice to Arsenal…
Thomas Partey has struggled with injuries in the past, and so the Gunners will need adequate cover for him next season should they qualify for the Champions League.
Lauded as a ‘monster’, a ‘force of nature’, a ‘leader’ and a ‘serious talent’ by journalist Rob Blanchette, there are not many better players in Rice’s position, while former England international Paul Parker even believes that the six-foot-one colossus is the ‘best central midfielder in the country‘.
At just 24, he is five years younger than Partey, and so would be in place to make his role in the team his own once the Ghana international moves on.
Nonetheless, Rice would certainly be a statement signing at the Emirates this summer which would help them kick on from this impressive campaign.