Arsenal are on the verge of completing the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham in a deal which could reach in excess of £100m.
Rice is close to becoming Arsenal’s club record signing after productive talks between the two clubs, with West Ham chairman David Sullivan having last week confirmed that midfielder would be allowed to leave the London Stadium this summer.
The 24-year-old captained West Ham to Europa Conference League success this season as the Irons secured a first major trophy since 1980, but has been vocal of his desire to compete in the Champions League.
Arsenal have made Rice their leading transfer target ahead of the summer window and The Guardian are reporting that a club-record deal is edging closer.
The Gunners had hoped to sign Rice for a fee of around £90m, but the transfer is expected to surpass £100m if certain add-ons are met. Rice will become the third £100m+ player in Premier League history, after Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.
Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle had considered moves for Rice, but Arsenal have been direct in their pursuit of the England international and are close to landing Mikel Arteta’s top target.
Arteta has made midfield signings his focus ahead of the transfer window and the Gunners have also been linked with Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan. Rice’s arrival is expected to pave the way for Granit Xhaka to complete his transfer to Bayer Leverkusen.
