27 June 2023 , 22:15
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Arsenal have submitted a third bid of up to £105million for Declan Rice.
The Gunners are determined to win the race for his signature after West Ham turned down Manchester City's opening £90m offer on Tuesday. Mikel Arteta is keen to bolster his midfield ahead of their return to the Champions League and Rice is firmly at the top of their summer shopping list.
Rice, who has one year left on his contract with an option of a further 12 months, has made it clear his preferred destination is the Emirates Stadium. However, West Ham wanted more than £100million for the England international.
Having already had two bids of up to £90m turned down - £75m plus £15m in add-ons - Arsenal have now made a third proposal. The Gunners have lodged an offer worth £100m plus £5m in add-ons for Rice and they are hoping this will be enough for West Ham to cash in on their prized asset.
Should the transfer go through, Rice would eclipse Jack Grealish as the most expensive British footballer bought by a Premier League club. Jude Bellingham, Rice's England team-mate, secured a £115m move to Spanish giants Real Madrid earlier this summer. Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez, meanwhile, would remain as the Premier League's record transfer after his £106m transfer from Benfica in January.
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As for Rice, a move to the Gunners would see him play Champions League football for the first time in his career. He helped West Ham win the Conference League earlier this month as the Hammers beat Fiorentina in the final. After that game, chairman David Sullivan admitted the midfielder had played his final game for the club.
Declan Rice celebrates after winning the Conference League earlier this month (Getty Images)He 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 are splashing the cash this summer as they are set to announce a deal for Kai Havertz after agreeing a £65m deal with Chelsea for the Germany international, who has already undergone a medical. They are also set to agree a deal worth £40m for Ajax's versatile right-sided defender Jurrien Timber.
Departures are also expected with Rob Holding, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Folarin Balogun and Kieran Tierney being targeted and, with Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka also candidates to leave.