Rice transfer destination decided as Arsenal, Man City and Man Utd chase star
#DeclanDecides.
It hasn't quite reached the stage of social media obsession yet, but the debate over Declan Rice's future continues to dominate a transfer window which could just be about to catch fire.
For a long time Arsenal had been in the box seat to sign the England midfielder this summer, with Rice seemingly destined to leave West Ham after leading his side to Europa Conference League glory.
Now though, Manchester City have come to the party, while Manchester United and others are also hovering in the background.
Where should Rice go? We asked our Mirror Football team what they think.
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Neil McLeman
He should go to Arsenal.
In the year before Euro 2024, Rice has to look at the examples of Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish during their first seasons at Manchester City where they struggled for game time. Rodri is perhaps the only holding midfielder better than Rice in the world and would Pep Guardiola play both?
Manchester United and Newcastle have money but they are further away from being title contenders. Arsenal came close last season and are willing to invest to build a squad to challenge at home and abroad. Rice would become a central player at the Emirates Stadium - and he and England would benefit.
Rice needs to choose his next club carefully (James Griffiths/West Ham United/REX/Shutterstock)Darren Lewis
Arsenal have already made a shrewd signing in Kai Havertz and Rice would be a formidable addition to their midfield.
The trouble for them is that once Manchester City come in, there is no longer a decision to make. The Champions League winners and winners of the Premier League in five of the last six seasons? Or the team still aspiring to reach those heady heights?
Arsenal will grow stronger for sure. Mikel Arteta has them operating ahead of schedule having challenged for the title last season. They’d probably have been a better option that Manchester United or Chelsea. But City right now are a different proposition altogether.
John Cross
I think people are looking at the decision facing Declan Rice in a very one dimensional way.
Should he join Treble-winning Manchester City or Arsenal? It’s a bit lazy to say just go for the guaranteed trophies. A good option, mind you!
But if an employer who is desperate to reach the top, become the new No1, comes in with a vision and a play about how you will fit in and become king of the castle, would you not be flattered?
If months and months of work had gone in to selling that vision and dream, would it not make you think: “wow, they really want me - and this could work!”
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Arteta has long admired Rice (Getty Images)Of course it can work. City are the best team in Premier League history, in my view. But Arsenal see Rice as the future captain to help them get there.
Plus also what about Kalvin Phillips? Brilliant player, top guy and yet he’s probably now sweating on his place at the Euros through not playing for a year.
Arsenal have gone all-in for Rice. They clearly believe Rice wants to join them and have made an astonishing offer, by the way. £90m for a player whose reputation has been built as being a defensive midfielder? That would make him one of the most expensive players of all time.
Arsenal will be devastated if they don’t get their man - because Rice would be a perfect fit.
Mark Jones
The fact that he scored the winner in the Champions League final was a bit of a blow for all of us who liked to think we were being clever by insisting that Rodri is criminally underrated and clearly the most important player in the Man City team. Everyone can see that now.
The Spanish international runs Pep Guardiola's midfield, and while this isn't to say that Rice wouldn't thrive if he joined him in there, he would be forced to adapt somewhat. There would be less of the all-action approach because Rodri's actions will have the game locked down anyway.
At Arsenal it'd be different though.
You'd see Rice running with the ball more often, contributing to attacks from that left-sided role Granit Xhaka filled and generally just being a lot more involved.
It'd be a lot more of the Rice we've seen at West Ham basically, and crucially a lot more fun to watch.
Fraser Watson
It's the twist we all knew was coming.
Remain in London, keep your family settled, join a club where the team will seemingly be built around you - or head to Manchester where wages, not to mention the opportunities to win trophies, will be vastly superior?
The notion of Declan Rice remaining at West Ham is long gone. The saga has gone too far, and David Sullivan's admission that the club captain had played his last game for the club represented a firm closure of the chapter.
A move to the Emirates appears ideal for him from a football point of view. An upgrade on Thomas Partey, Rice can focus purely on form and will still have the chance to showcase himself in the Champions League.
City of course, would be an easier option for multiple reasons. It would be refreshing though, were a top level star like Rice opt to risk missing out on medals for a move he feels will further benefit his career. End up at the Etihad, and the perception that Man City hold the monopoly over the rest of the Premier League, and can swoop in for who they want, when they want, will only grow.
Rice could link up with the European champions at City (AP)Jacob Leeks
The warning signs of choosing Manchester City should be plain to see for Declan Rice.
The West Ham skipper is certainly more than ready to be the beating heart of a trophy challenging team, something he would be at Arsenal.
The Gunners are crying out for a player in the mould of Rice, who would also bring leadership and trophy-winning experience to a young squad.
He would not have the same status at City, where he would likely be challenging Rodri and Kalvin Phillips for a spot in Pep Guardiola's team.
Mikel Arteta's side meanwhile are starting to show they can be contenders and Rice can earn legendary status if he helps to give them the final push to ending their two-decade long title drought.
You only need to look at Phillips to see how a career can stall by selecting City and for that reason, Arsenal has to be Rice's preferred choice.
Thomas Tuchel could bring Rice to Germany (Sven Hoppe/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Daniel Orme
Whilst Mikel Arteta is building something promising at the Emirates Stadium, there is nowhere in world football that guarantees success and trophies more than Manchester City right now. Pep Guardiola’s side are fresh off the back of an historic-treble winning season.
Rice certainly has a taste of silverware now having played a key role in West Ham’s successful Europa Conference League campaign. He already also has a guaranteed starting role at the Etihad after Ilkay Gundogan’s exit for Barcelona was confirmed.
One dark horse could potentially be a move to Bayern Munich. Just like England colleague Jude Bellingham, Rice could establish himself as one of the best midfielders in the world whilst in Germany.
More silverware looks a guarantee in Bavaria. Meanwhile, one aspect that might be useful will be the lack of any real spotlight on the huge fee expected to be paid for him.
Thomas Tuchel is a long-term admirer of the England man and he could be an ideal addition to the German club’s midfield alongside Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Jamal Musiala.
Josh O'Brien
The allure of Manchester City's silverware is strong no doubt, but Rice needs to think about where he can both lift trophies and become a legend in his own right.
Mikel Arteta is already thought to have told him how he views Rice as a future captain one day, to don the armband for a side clearly going places is an exciting prospect that not many could turn down.
Pep Guardiola is widely believed to be heading for the Etihad exit door in 2025, which could also be a factor in Rice's decision.
The England ace could become the face of a new illustrious, trophy-laden era for one of the biggest sides in the country and cement his status as an Arsenal icon in the process.
The Gunners have been tracking him for months, Rice knows the Emirates is where he is desperately wanted.
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