Transfer Showdown: Arsenal and West Ham at Odds Over £105m Deal for England Sensation Declan Rice
Arsenal and West Ham are still negotiating the payment structure for Declan Rice's potential £105m transfer The clubs have agreed in principle, but further discussions are needed to reach a resolution Follow the summer transfer window with Sky Sports
No agreement has been reached yet regarding Declan Rice's transfer from West Ham to Arsenal, as discussions continue regarding the payment arrangement for the transaction.
The total fee, amounting to £105m, is not a matter of concern, as one source alleges that it has been tentatively agreed upon.
Despite the shared willingness among all parties to reach an agreement, there remain tasks to be accomplished before the clubs can find a solution.
Rice is now eligible to negotiate personal terms and undergo a medical examination with Arsenal.
The transfer is structured with an initial fee of £100m, along with an additional £5m in add-ons linked to performance.
The Irons have turned down two previous bids from Arsenal, both of which were club-record offers. The first bid was worth £90m, consisting of a £75m fee and £15m in add-ons. The second bid was an opening offer believed to be valued at £80m, with additional add-ons.
The offer surpasses Arsenal's previous transfer record of £72m, which was paid to Lille for Nicolas Pepe in 2019.
Rice has dedicated his entire professional career to West Ham, and his final accomplishment was leading the club to victory in the Europa Conference League.
Mikel Arteta, who primarily relied on Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard as his midfielders in the previous season, has been determined to bolster that specific area of the pitch. It appears that he has successfully acquired his top target.
Rice's potential record-breaking move in numbers
Eagerly Strengthening the Midfield
Rice's amicable Hammers departure
West Ham chairman David Sullivan revealed that a mutual agreement allowed Rice to depart, despite still being under contract for another year, with the possibility of extending it for an additional 12 months.Rice, who initially joined West Ham's academy from Chelsea during his teenage years, has established himself as a consistent presence since his breakthrough season in 2017-18. Following Mark Noble's retirement last year, he assumed the captaincy role.
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Last season, the 24-year-old showcased his skills by participating in 50 games across various competitions. West Ham, his team, secured a 14th place finish in the Premier League and went on to triumph in the Europa Conference League in Prague.
In addition to his club achievements, Rice has made notable contributions to West Ham with his impressive record of over 200 games played. Since his international debut in 2019, he has also proudly represented England with 41 caps under his belt.
Neville: I would spend £50m-£60m on Rice
In March, pundit Gary Neville stated that Rice's value is only around £50m-£60m, which is approximately half of the current amount being negotiated by West Ham and Arsenal.
"I hold a great admiration for Declan Rice," Neville expressed. "However, when I consider world-class holding midfielders and players of similar caliber, we have to acknowledge that Rice falls more into the category of a defensive player, lacking in significant goal-scoring or assist contributions."
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"Moreover, it is necessary to be an individual whom I consider to possess exceptional skills in ball control and play coordination, as well as have a deep understanding of effectively advancing the ball from the defensive line.
Currently, I hold the belief that Declan should seek a new environment to develop his talent. It is crucial for him to pursue opportunities for growth and strive towards playing for a different team."
I believe Declan Rice has significant potential for growth and improvement to reach the caliber of players like Casemiro, Rodri, and other top performers in his position. However, personally, I feel that spending £110m or £120m on him is unnecessary. In my opinion, a more reasonable amount to invest would be around £50m-£60m.
