Arsenal confident of landing Declan Rice and aim to pay West Ham 90m
The Guardian Arsenal are confident of sealing a deal to sign Declan Rice after the midfielder captained West Ham to a dramatic victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday.
Rice is Arsenals top target and they intend to move quickly to try to fend off interest from Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Newcastle. Mikel Artetas side are leading the race for the 24-year-old and talks with West Ham are expected to accelerate soon.
Declan Rice delivers pulsating final act to push West Ham over the line | Ed Aarons
Read more
West Ham hope to receive at least 100m for Rice, who wants to leave, and it would strengthen their position if an auction developed. Arsenal want to pay about 90m.
The expectation is that Rice will make the switch to the Emirates Stadium. There is mutual respect between Arteta and the England midfielder. Rice, who is keen not to leave London, admires Artetas football and it is understood he wants to move to Arsenal.
West Hams chairman, David Sullivan, confirmed on Thursday that Rice would be allowed to leave. We promised him he could go, he told TalkSport. He set his heart on going and in due course he has to get on and we have to get a replacement. It is not something we wanted to happen.
