Arsenal are willing to offer a £200,000-a-week deal to sign Declan Rice, with the Chelsea target likely to leave West Ham United.
According to Football Insider, Arsenal could make a huge proposal to sign Declan Rice in the summer. The report suggests the Gunners could offer a £200,000-a-week deal for the midfielder and lure him to the Emirates, although there will be considerable interest in the England star from Chelsea and others.
Declan Rice should dominate headlines in the summer as he will likely leave West Ham United. The midfielder will have some of the bigger clubs on his trail when the season ends, with Arsenal clearly in the picture to make a big move.
West Ham have tried their best to extend Rice’s contract. But he has rejected their best possible proposal. He has reiterated the desire to play at a higher level, compete for trophies, and, most importantly, play in the UEFA Champions League.
The midfielder has no shortage of interest, with Arsenal considered the front-runners for his signature. They are ahead of long-time admirers Chelsea, who may want to reignite their chase of the midfielder to strengthen their squad.
The big issue with Chelsea would be their inability to finish in Champions League spots. The Blues continue to endure a torrid season, dropping another set of points against bottom-placed Southampton. Rice was an academy member with many friends at Stamford Bridge. But he might prioritise playing in the Champions League.
Hence, Arsenal could become the favourites to sign him, with Mikel Arteta reportedly in direct contact with his entourage since January. The Gunners are keen on a new holding midfielder to shore up their options for next season.
Signing a player like Rice would be a statement of intent from the Gunners. With someone of the midfielder’s stature, they can challenge for honours on every front, including the Champions League. They could also win the Premier League title this season, further improving their chances of signing Rice.
The Gunners are reportedly willing to break their transfer record and make a huge bid in the summer. Moreover, they could hand Rice a £200,000-a-week deal, which more than triples his current £60,000-a-week wages. Arsenal want to get it sorted well before the season ends, meaning things could move forward around May.
Signing Rice would be a huge coup for Arsenal and their quest to stay relevant in another title chase next season. For now, they are favourites to land the England international. Still, they have much work to do before finalising any potential deal, including negotiating with West Ham over a reasonable fee.
