West Ham have turned down an opening bid from Arsenal for midfielder Declan Rice.
The Gunners had shown interest in the midfielder and were expected to match the Hammers’ valuation of more than £100m but their initial bid is believed to be far lesser than that.
As per reports, Arsenal’s opening offer is somewhere around £80m plus £10m in potential add-ons.
Rice has preferred a move to the Gunners, due to the fact that the Gunners are in London and can provide Champions League football as well. However, there can be a twist as Manchester City are now reportedly considering hijacking the move.
The treble winners are on the hunt for a midfielder and had been on the radar of Jude Bellingham.
But with Bellingham opting to join Real Madrid, Rice is now appreciated by Pep Guardiola and City’s interest will now provide some room for thought for Arsenal – despite the player sold on the idea of a move to the Emirates.
Manchester United have also explored the idea of signing Rice but have not made their interest formal yet.
Rice grew through Chelsea’s youth academy before joining West Ham at the age of 14.
After his senior debut on the final day of the 2016/17 season, Rice has grown a reputation as one of the most valuable midfielders in the Premier League and has already racked up 245 appearances for West Ham.
West Ham braced for Rice exit
Following Mark Noble’s retirement, Rice was named the Hammers’ captain and won the Europa Conference League trophy in what club owner David Sullivan expects to be his final game for the club.
Asked if it was his last match, Sullivan told talkSPORT: “I think it has to be. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.
“You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season.
“In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements.
“It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down.
“It’s cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go.
“You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.”
Arsenal expected to bid again
Despite seeing their first offer turned down, Arsenal are expected to make a much improved second offer that should be able to convince West Ham to sell their prized asset.
The Gunners will take on Nottingham Forest in their first fixture of the 2023/24 season.
