Harry Diamond
Mikel Arteta views Declan Rice as a future Arsenal captain ahead of a third bid for the West Ham midfielder.
Arsenal have seen two offers turned down for Rice with the second worth a club-record £90m including add-ons, but are expected to return with an improved offer for the England international.
The Gunners face competition in the race to sign Rice however, with Manchester City expected to table an offer imminently following Ilkay Gundogan’s decision to leave the club for Barcelona. Manchester United have also been credited with interest and Arsenal are desperate to beat their Premier League rivals to Mikel Arteta’s number one transfer target.
The Daily Mail are reporting that Arsenal’s third offer will be closer to West Ham’s valuation of around £100m, while the Hammers are demanding that the guaranteed portion of the fee is paid in two instalments by the end of 2025.
Arsenal believe Rice would become an immediate leader in their emerging side and Arteta views the 24-year-old as a potential future captain at the Emirates. Rice captained West Ham to Europa Conference League success last season – the club’s first major trophy since 1980 – and has already won 43 caps for England at international level.
It is understood that Rice’s preference, until now, has been a move to Arsenal with the midfielder assured of a key role in the side, but an approach from treble-winners Manchester City will unnerve the Gunners in their pursuit.
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