Manchester City are expected to make an opening bid for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice on Thursday.
Arsenal’s Premier League rivals had rejected a club-record offer worth up to £90m (consisting of a £75m transfer fee and £15m surcharges) earlier in the week, but Arsenal are understood to always accept a transfer fee from West getting closer Ham is aiming for a goal when their captain departs.
The Athletic reported earlier this month that Premier League champions City are also actively exploring their own approach for the 24-year-old, who they are now looking to make an official offer to.
City are already in the process of finalizing a deal for Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic and Barcelona are close to signing Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer.
Follow the summer transfer window with the athlete…
Rice remains Arsenal’s main target this summer, with Mikel Arteta prioritizing reinforcements in midfield.
West Ham chief executive David Sullivan said after the club’s Europa Conference League triumph he expected Rice to have played his last game for the club, adding that he “wanted to leave”.
Rice’s contract at West Ham expires in 2024 with an option for a one-year extension.
He has made 245 appearances for West Ham since his debut in 2017.
GO DEEPER
Declan Rice’s future: who from Arsenal or Manchester City would suit him better?
Analysis by JJ Bull
Rice is one of the best players in Europe when it comes to repelling enemy attacks. He can win the ball back, but then he carries it across the field, turning defensive play into attacking play.
His interpretation of the game is at the highest level – it seems innate – that’s what he’s really good at: anticipation, timing, decision making.
West Ham often play a 4-2-3-1 and Rice is one of their two midfielders, often alongside Tomas Soucek. He’s the one who forms a defensive triangle set up from behind and who’s always available to take the pass.
His real strength lies in disrupting play by patrolling midfield to prevent counterattacks from breaking through.
(Photo: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)