In a bold move, Arsenal has tabled their third bid for West Ham's talented midfielder Declan Rice, amounting to an astonishing £105 million. If accepted, this offer would make Rice the most expensive British player ever, surpassing the previous record held by Gareth Bale's £85 million transfer from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013. Recently, Jude Bellingham's move to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund for an initial fee of £88.5 million set a new record as well.
The pursuit of Rice has reached new heights, with Arsenal's latest bid significantly exceeding their previous two offers this summer. The Gunners' latest proposal includes £100 million upfront, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons. West Ham had already rejected two previous offers from Arsenal, and Manchester City's bid of £90 million, including £10 million in add-ons, was also turned down on Tuesday morning.
Rice has expressed a preference for a move to Arsenal, where he would play a crucial role in Mikel Arteta's project. However, the opportunity to join Pep Guardiola's treble-winning side at Manchester City holds its own appeal, especially considering City's pursuit of new midfielders following the departure of captain Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona on a free transfer.
Arsenal's signing of Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, which could eventually amount to £30 million, has already been finalized. The addition of Rice is part of Arsenal's ambitious recruitment drive this summer, with a reported £65 million deal for Chelsea forward Kai Havertz said to be nearing completion.
Rice, who captained West Ham to their first European trophy in 58 years, will be leaving the club during the upcoming close season. Despite having one year remaining on his contract, Rice has been granted permission to depart based on a gentleman's agreement, with the option for an additional 12-month extension.
Having joined West Ham's academy from Chelsea as a teenager, Rice has been an integral part of the team since his breakthrough season in 2017-18. After Mark Noble's retirement, he assumed the captaincy last year. The 24-year-old midfielder featured in 50 matches across all competitions last season as West Ham finished 14th in the Premier League and secured the Europa Conference League title in Prague. With over 200 appearances for West Ham and 41 caps for England since his international debut in 2019, Rice's talent and potential have garnered widespread recognition.
