Exclusive: Arsenal's Last-Minute Twist in Epic Declan Rice Transfer Saga Leaves West Ham in Agony

West Ham's frustration grows due to the prolonged delay in finalizing the £105m deal to transfer Declan Rice to Arsenal. Despite agreeing on the terms eight days ago, the signing of the contracts is yet to take place.

Arsenal's lawyers are currently causing delays with the paperwork, resulting in a hold-up.

According to West Ham, Rice has successfully completed his medical examination at Arsenal and has been training consistently while on holiday in Portugal.

Arsenal are optimistic about finalizing Rice's signing prior to the squad's departure for their pre-season tour in the USA on Sunday. The agreement is structured as an initial payment of £100m, supplemented with £5m in add-ons, surpassing Arsenal's previous record signing of Nicolas Pepe from Lille for £72m 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 is set to officially announce the acquisition of Jurrien Timber, with the club aiming to include the defender in their lineup for the upcoming friendly against FC Nurnberg on Thursday. Timber has successfully undergone his medical examination in preparation for his £38m transfer from Ajax, and final touches are being made to finalize a long-term contract.

The Gunners will initially pay £34m for Timber, with the rest of the fee dependent on performance-based add-ons. Timber, who has previously attracted Manchester United's attention, will be joining as a right-back. This position was primarily filled by Ben White last season, although Timber also has the ability to play as a centre-back.

Balogun asking price set at £50m

With Rice and Timber set to join, Arsenal are now shifting their attention to acquiring transfers for players who are no longer part of Mikel Arteta's plans.

Folarin Balogun, Nicolas Pepe, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Cedric Soares are all up for grabs.

There is significant interest in Balogun from various European clubs such as AC Milan, Marseille, and Monaco. However, no official offers have been made for the striker, whom Arsenal has valued at £50m. Balogun, who could have played for England but has chosen to represent the USA internationally, impressed with his 22 goals in 39 games during his loan spell at 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, Tavares, and Cedric were loaned to Nice, Marseille, and Fulham respectively for the 2022/23 campaign.

Furthermore, European clubs have expressed interest in Thomas Partey, who still has two years left on his contract.

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

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

During Arsenal's 2-2 draw with West Ham at the London Stadium in April, they received undeniable evidence of Declan Rice's worth as a potential addition to their team. At the half-hour mark, when the Gunners were leading by two goals and appeared on course for a significant triumph over Manchester City, everything turned around due to a spontaneous decision made by the player they are currently pursuing to become their most expensive transfer.

Running at full speed, Rice intercepted Kieran Tierney's intent to pass to Thomas Partey in the depths of the Arsenal side. Just in the nick of time, Rice managed to snatch possession from the Ghanaian, swiftly maneuvering the ball into the penalty area and locating the charging Lucas Paqueta.

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How Declan Rice compares to Arsenal's midfielders

The following penalty, earned by Paqueta and converted by Said Benrahma, altered the course of the game for Arsenal. It may have also affected the outcome of the title race. And it all began with Rice.

This gameplay sequence exemplified numerous traits that attract Arsenal to Rice: his ability to anticipate and recognize opportunities, his quickness and strength in reaching them and successfully gaining possession of the ball, and his composure in creating opportunities for his teammates and leading to the penalty.

Where does Rice's transfer fee rank?

Jude Bellingham broke the record for the highest transfer fee ever paid for an English player, as he made a sensational £115m switch from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid this month.

Rice now holds the title for the second most expensive English player ever, as his transfer fee surpassed the £100m that Manchester City spent on Jack Grealish in August 2021, by £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:

At just 22 years old, Timber already boasts almost 200 senior appearances for both club and country, making him a valuable asset to Arsenal. With a perfect combination of youth and experience, he brings the ideal mix that the club seeks in new signings.

Furthermore, Timber's versatility and adaptability make him an even more valuable addition. While he has primarily played as a center-back in a back four for Ajax, he typically operates in a back three for the Dutch national team. However, he is also capable of seamlessly fitting into the right-back position and possesses the ability to excel in midfield as well.

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Arsenal is greatly attracted to Jurrien Timber due to his excellent passing skills. These attributes are vital for Arteta, who prefers his full-backs to venture into central zones with the ball. Additionally, there are numerous other aspects that captivate the Arsenal manager.

Timber's defensive skills, including his strong tackling and ability to compete in aerial challenges, are highly regarded. However, his greatest asset lies in his exceptional passing ability. Timber's proficiency on the ball is evident in his impressive statistics, highlighting his crucial role for Ajax.

In the previous Eredivisie season, Timber surpassed all other players in terms of touches and passes. Notably, he also led in forward passes, showcasing his ability to not only maintain possession but also penetrate the opposition's defense and initiate attacks.

Explained: How Arsenal can afford big-money summer signings

The importance of this skill cannot be overstated for Arsenal, as their defenders are expected to withstand opposition pressure and initiate the team's attacks. Arteta has high hopes of utilizing Timber's talent in this aspect of the game in the upcoming seasons and beyond.

Explained: How Arsenal can afford big-money summer signings

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes that Arsenal's newfound willingness to invest is a direct result of Mikel Arteta's accomplishments.

"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 since 2018, being £150m to £170m lower compared to Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City. This has allowed them the freedom to invest in the transfer market without significant concerns. Additionally, participating in Champions League matches provides them with additional benefits such as premium prices and a minimum prize money of £50m.

Considering all factors, it is likely that there is still some flexibility in their spending capacity during the current transfer window.

In response to the question regarding a change in strategy at Arsenal, he confirmed that there had been a period of retrenchment, marked by a few years of not qualifying for the Champions League.

Having successfully cleared out high-earning players such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from their payroll, Arsenal now has the opportunity to enter the market with a strong competitive stance, striving to compete with other clubs.

Historically labeled as the Bank of England club, Arsenal has consistently demonstrated sound financial management. The recent shift in spending signifies recognition for Mikel Arteta's accomplishment in securing Champions League positions once again, an achievement that holds significant value in terms of increased revenue.

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Which players will be transferring to new clubs before the transfer window closes on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland?

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