Declan Rice saga turns into a FOUR-horse race after Arsenal’s £80m bid was rejected as Man City, Man United and Chelsea join chase – as West Ham hope a bidding war sees fee go beyond £100m
- Chelsea, Man City and United have joined Arsenal in the chase for Declan Rice
- The Gunners looked clear favourites but it has now become a four horse race
- The Hammers rejected Arsenal’s £80m offer and hope to spark a bidding war
Arsenal‘s route to Declan Rice has been complicated by the fact that Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have all registered their interest with West Ham.
While Arsenal remain favourites to sign Rice despite their opening offer of £80million plus £10m in add-ons being rejected, it is turning into a four-horse race for the 24-year-old.
West Ham insiders confirmed on Thursday that all four of the Premier League’s top teams have indicated their want for Rice, though the club themselves are not commenting.
West Ham’s top brass are welcoming a bidding war as they hope it will take the fee up and over the £100m mark which Mail Sport revealed last month they had set as a minimum. The current British transfer record stands at £106.8m, which Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez in the last January transfer window.
The race for Rice could turn into a summer saga as West Ham wait to see what bids are submitted by the Premier League’s top clubs, hopeful of extracting the highest price possible for their captain.
The battle for Declan Rice has now become a four-horse race after Arsenal’s bid was rejected
Man United boss Erik ten Hag also wants to bring Rice to Old Trafford this summer
Sky Sports reported on Thursday that a Hammers source described the structure of Arsenal’s opening bid as ’embarrassing’, though Mikel Arteta’s club will return with an improved offer. The Daily Telegraph have also reported that a second ‘top club’ will bid for the midfielder in the next 24 hours.
West Ham promised Rice after he rejected their last contract extension – worth £200,000 per week – that he can leave this summer.
The England international gained respect after he agreed to stay to help in the wake of Mark Noble’s exit as skipper, leading them to their first trophy since 1980 by winning the Europa Conference League.
West Ham are believed to be interested in what Man City may be able to offer for the player, further delaying the Gunners’ plans to make a swift move for their No 1 transfer target.
The European champions have not entered the transfer market in full force, working only on a potential deal for Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic.
But Pep Guardiola’s side may yet have to contend with a number of high-profile departures, with Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva’s futures currently uncertain.
The England star became the first West Ham captain to lift a European trophy since 1965 with the Hammers’ Europa Conference League win
West Ham – headed by David Sullivan – hope a bidding war can take the price beyond £100m
The Hammers were also said to be disappointed by how Arsenal wished to structure the deal over four years.
Mail Sport reported last Wednesday that West Ham wanted to have the guaranteed portion of Rice’s transfer fee for their player by 2025.
West Ham were among the clubs named on UEFA’s financial fair play watchlist last September and want the full funds in their account as quickly as possible to help ensure they comfortably stay within the laws.
The Treble-winners’ interest in Rice comes after the midfielder had spent weeks as the focus of rivals United’s transfer aspirations.
In recent days, the Red Devils’ transfer energies have been largely focused on securing the talents of Rice’s friend and England team-mate, Mason Mount.
