West Ham haven’t immediately accepted Arsenal’s £105million bid for top summer target Declan Rice, according to reports. Despite matching the Hammers’s expectation in terms of the valuation of their skipper, negotiations are said to be ongoing between both clubs over the dates for the payments.
Arsenal’s offer consists of £100m in guaranteed cash plus £5m worth of add-ons. And the Daily Mail claim that West Ham want the base fee to be paid by the start of 2025, preferably in two instalments and so haven’t accepted the bid as of yet as they look to shore up the financial side of the deal.
However, it is understood that Arsenal want to pay the fee over a five-year period. The Gunners are hoping to get the transfer over the line as quickly as possible as they look to steal a march on Manchester City, who are also keen on the player.
City recently entered the race for Rice with a formal offer of £80m plus £10m which was also rejected. Arsenal is said to be Rice’s preferred destination although he hasn’t ruled out a move to the treble winners either.
Regardless Rice is almost certain to be on the move this summer with West Ham chairman David Sullivan admitting that the Europa Conference League final was likely he is final game in the claret and blue.
He told talkSPORT: “I think it has to be. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going. You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season.
“In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements. It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down.
“It’s cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.”
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