Arsenal to stop Declan Rice joining Liverpool as Peter Crouch denied wish

Arsenal are set to deny Peter Crouch his summer transfer wish. Liverpool hero Crouch has admitted he’d ‘absolutely love’ his old club to sign Declan Rice from West Ham in the coming months but Arsenal are now closing in on the midfielder.

Rice’s future has been the subject of speculation for months on end. But the Hammers, despite winning the Europa Conference League to secure a spot in next season’s Europa League, have accepted they will lose their captain this summer.

West Ham are demanding at least £100million to let go of the 24-year-old, who has been at the London club since the age of 14. And it appears he is to cross the capital to join Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal who challenged Manchester City for the title last term.

The Guardian say the Gunners are moving quickly to secure the England international’s signature due to interest from Premier League rivals. Rice is Arteta’s top target with talks now progressing between the two clubs.

Arsenal are confident of wrapping up a deal soon which will make Rice their club-record signing. Bayern Munich have now withdrawn their interest which has smoothed the path for the north London outfit to bring in a player who Arteta is a huge fan of.

And the move will disappoint Crouch, the former Liverpool, Tottenham and Stoke City centre-forward. Crouch, now a regular pundit on BT Sport, had admitted to Paddy Power he was keen to see the midfielder head to Anfield.

He said: “Alexis Mac Allister is a good signing for Liverpool. He’s a great player but the fans will want more signings before next season. Defensive reinforcements and another midfielder would be welcome.

“I know he’s being linked elsewhere but I’d absolutely love to see Declan Rice come in as well. He’s a class act and I think he could go to any club and be a great signing for them.

“It probably won’t be Liverpool as he’s going to be very expensive, but it would be a great addition.” Liverpool have never been credited with any serious interest in Rice with their focus this summer on far cheaper options given their budget.

Nice’s Kephren Thuram, Manu Kone of Borussia Monchengladbach and Celta Vigo star Gabri Veiga are their three main targets after signing Mac Allister. Veiga, 21, would cost a mere £34m and is an attack-minded option.

While Thuram and Kone would be brought in to operate in more disciplined roles. It is thought the two Frenchmen, both 22 years old, would be available for between £35m and £45m each. Liverpool paid an initial £35m for Mac Allister rising to a possible £55m with add-ons.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are also keen on Mac Allister’s ex-Brighton team-mate Moises Caicedo though he is expected to cost a minimum of £80m. Arteta also likes Man City’s Ilkay Gundogan who could depart on a free transfer and right-back Ivan Frenesda of Real Valladolid.