Arsenal Transfer News: With the possibility of Declan Rice leaving West Ham, Arsenal has emerged as one of the interested teams
The Mirror reports that Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, intends to speak with Declan Rice once the season is over because he believes the club may still sign him despite their failing title hopes. Rice’s contract has an option to extend another year till next summer, but he has refused offers for a new one. The 24-year-old England international is interested in a move to the Emirates and is eager to remain in London. He has 41 caps for the Three Lions of England.
Arteta, a former midfielder, thinks he can persuade Rice, who is worth £100 million, to sign for Arsenal. In order to try to set up a significant move when the market opens in June, he intends to persuade the club to make a formal approach when the season is over.
After failing to secure high-profile contracts for Moises Caicedo and Mykhaylo Mudryk in January, Arsenal has money to spend this summer. While Brighton’s Ecuadorian international Caicedo decided to sign a new contract with Albion, Mudryk chose to sign with Chelsea.
Rice revealed when representing England that he yearns for Champions League play, making Arsenal an even more alluring destination now that they have qualified for the competition next season.
He said: “One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League. For the last two or three years, I’ve been saying that.
“I’ve been playing consistently well for my club, and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies.
“You only get one career, and at the end, you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.”
Rice has been in great form, scoring three goals and giving out two assists in 33 games for West Ham despite their problems close to the relegation zone. Additionally, he has played a crucial role in the Hammers’ run to the Europa Conference League’s final four.
In a recent Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund, West Ham’s head of recruitment, Rob Newman, is rumoured to have been at the game to watch Swiss midfielder Djibril Sow of Eintracht Frankfurt, whom they view as a potential replacement for Rice.
