Breaking: Arsenal Scrambles to Finalize Declan Rice Transfer, Fans on Tenterhooks

West Ham's frustration is mounting over the lingering delay in finalizing the £105m transfer of Declan Rice to Arsenal. Despite reaching an agreement eight days ago, the contracts have yet to be signed, leaving West Ham in a state of anticipation.

The delay is occurring due to paperwork delays from Arsenal's legal team. West Ham understands that Rice has successfully completed his medical examination at Arsenal, and he has been consistently training while on a holiday in Portugal.

Arsenal aim to finalize the signing of Rice prior to the team's departure for their pre-season tour in the USA on Sunday. The agreement consists of an initial payment of £100m, supplemented by £5m in add-ons, surpassing Arsenal's previous highest expenditure of £72m for Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019.

Rice's signing will be just short of the British transfer record, which was set by Chelsea when they paid Benfica £106.8m for Enzo Fernandez in January.

Arsenal are set to officially announce the acquisition of Jurrien Timber soon. They anticipate adding the defender to their squad for an upcoming friendly against FC Nurnberg on Thursday. Timber has already undergone a medical examination in preparation for his £38m move from Ajax and the necessary paperwork is currently being finalized for a long-term contract.

The Gunners will initially pay £34m for Timber, and the remaining portion of the fee will be based on performance-related add-ons. Timber, who can play as a right-back and also at centre-back, was previously a subject of interest from Manchester United.

'Nothing to worry about for Arsenal fans'

The Athletic's David Ornstein speaking on Back Pages Tonight on We News:

"My understanding is everything is pretty much done and dusted.

"For Arsenal fans there's nothing to be concerned about.

"The Gunners are committing a record fee of £100m plus £5m in add-ons.

The payment structure was agreed upon, and due to the magnitude of the deal, the announcement may take some time.

"There are various aspects of the deal that still require careful consideration, but as far as I know, everything is proceeding as planned. The final stages will be completed, and everyone will receive the long-awaited announcement in due course."

Balogun asking price set at £50m

As Rice and Timber prepare to join, Arsenal is now shifting its attention to securing transfers for players who are not part of Mikel Arteta's plans. Among those available are Folarin Balogun, Nicolas Pepe, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Cedric Soares.

Several European clubs, including AC Milan, Marseille, and Monaco, have shown significant interest in Balogun. However, there have been no official offers made for the striker yet, despite Arsenal valuing him at £50m. Balogun, who had the option to play for England but has made a firm commitment to represent the USA internationally, showcased his capability by scoring 22 goals in 39 matches during his loan spell with French club Reims last season.

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Does Folarin Balogun have a future at Arsenal?

Lokonga - who spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace - has said he will need to move to get regular first-team football.

Pepe had a loan spell at Nice during the 2022/23 season, whereas Tavares played for Marseille and Cedric represented Fulham.

Furthermore, Thomas Partey, who still has two years left on his contract, has attracted attention from various European clubs.

Arsenal may consider reentering the market if they generate sufficient funds from sales. The club has been actively pursuing additions to their right-sided attacking options in recent transfer windows. Additionally, the possibility of recruiting another midfielder cannot be dismissed, particularly if Partey departs.

What Rice adds to Arsenal and where he fits...

Arsenal received further confirmation of the value of signing Declan Rice when, in April at the London Stadium, they witnessed a crucial turning point during their 2-2 draw with West Ham. At that point, Arsenal had a comfortable 2-goal lead and appeared destined for victory, which would have extended their lead over Manchester City by six points. However, everything shifted when Rice, the player they aspire to sign as their most expensive acquisition, demonstrated his quick thinking.

Rice sprinted towards Kieran Tierney, who was poised to deliver a pass to Thomas Partey in the depths of the Arsenal half. With impeccable timing, Rice closed down the Ghanaian midfielder, successfully snatching the ball away. He then swiftly advanced towards the penalty box, ultimately locating the charging Lucas Paqueta.

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How Declan Rice compares to Arsenal's midfielders

The subsequent penalty, converted by Said Benrahma and won by Paqueta, altered the game's momentum against Arsenal, potentially impacting the title race as well. It all originated from Rice.

This sequence exemplified numerous attributes that make Rice highly desirable to Arsenal: his ability to foresee opportunities, his agility and strength to seize them and gain possession, and his calmness in setting up his teammate and compelling the penalty.

Where does Rice's transfer fee rank?

Jude Bellingham made history this month by securing a record-breaking transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, becoming the highest-priced English player of all time with a colossal £115m deal. Following closely behind is Rice, who became the second-most expensive player ever, surpassing the £100m fee paid by Manchester City for Jack Grealish in August 2021 by an additional £5m.

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It would also be only the third time an English club has paid over £100m for a player.

Analysis: Why Timber fits the bill for Arsenal

We' Nick Wright:

Aged only 22, Timber boasts an impressive record of nearly 200 senior games for his club and country. Arsenal recognizes the value of his youth and experience, making him an ideal addition to their team. Moreover, Timber's versatility is unmatched. While predominantly a center-back in a back four for Ajax, he thrives in a back three for the Dutch national team. Furthermore, he can effortlessly fill the role of a right-back and even shift into midfield if required.

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Jurrien Timber's passing skills greatly contribute to his appeal to Arsenal. Such qualities are vital for Arteta, as he prefers his full-backs to venture into central areas while in possession. Additionally, there are numerous other factors that attract the Arsenal boss.

Timber is known for his exceptional defending skills, both in tackling and aerial challenges. However, his greatest asset lies in his impressive passing ability. He showcases remarkable control on the ball, and the statistics clearly highlight his significance to Ajax in this aspect.

During the previous Eredivisie season, Timber had the highest number of touches and completed the most passes among all players in the league. Furthermore, he also topped the charts for forward passes, illustrating his skill in not only retaining possession but also penetrating the opposition's defense and initiating attacks.

Explained: How Arsenal can afford big-money summer signings

Arsenal's success heavily relies on the ability of their defenders to withstand opposition pressing and initiate the team's attacks. Mikel Arteta, the manager, has high hopes of utilizing Timber's talent in that aspect of the game in the upcoming season and beyond. According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, Arsenal's apparent willingness to invest more is seen as a "reward" for Arteta's efforts.

"Arsenal are actually in a very strong position when it comes to spending," he told We News.

"The reason for that is they have managed to get their wages under control.

Arsenal's wages have decreased compared to 2018, being £150m to £170m lower than Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City. This has granted them the freedom to enter the market and acquire new players without significant concerns. Additionally, they enjoy the advantages of participating in Champions League matches, securing premium prices, and a minimum prize money of £50m.

When considering all factors, it is likely that they still have some flexibility in terms of their spending for the current period.

When questioned about any changes in strategy at Arsenal, he confirmed that there had indeed been a shift. The club experienced a period of decline, during which they failed to qualify for the Champions League.

They have successfully removed high-earning players, such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, from their financial obligations. This has allowed them to become more competitive in the market and strive to match other clubs.

Arsenal, previously renowned as the "Bank of England" club, has consistently maintained sound financial management. I believe this shift in spending reflects Mikel Arteta's achievement in securing Champions League spots once more, which greatly contributes to increased revenue.

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Which players will be making moves this summer before the transfer window slams shut at 11pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland?

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