Arsenal are set to return with a third offer for Declan Rice after seeing a club-record bid worth £90m turned down by West Ham.
West Ham have rejected Arsenal’s latest offer for the England midfielder as the Irons hold out for a fee of £100m. The latest proposal was for a guaranteed sum of £75m with a further £15m in potential add-ons, though the terms of the additional payments were deemed unsatisfactory. The bid followed an offer of £80m that was turned down last week.
Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the structure of a potential deal will be crucial and Arsenal have been informed that West Ham want ‘easy’ add-ons before agreeing a sale.
Rice is keen on the move as the midfielder looks to compete in the Champions League and West Ham have reluctantly accepted that their captain will depart this summer, having led the club to a first major trophy in 43 years with Europa Conference League success last season.
The Gunners are expected to return with an improved offer as Mikel Arteta looks to land his leading transfer target. Midfield is the focus for Arsenal in the summer window and the north Londoners are understood to be prepared to allow Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey to depart if transfer targets are secured.
Arsenal are focused on their pursuit of Rice, but also hold an interest in Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, Chelsea’s Kai Havertz and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
