Arsenal are set to ‘respond’ in the race to sign Declan Rice after Manchester City submitted a formal offer to sign the West Ham captain.
Arsenal have seen two bids rejected for Rice, with the second of those proposals worth a club-record £90m including add-ons.
The Gunners now face serious competition in the battle to land their leading transfer target, after Manchester City firmed up interest in Rice with a formal offer worth an initial £80m with an additional £10m in add-ons.
Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Arsenal are now preparing to respond to City’s approach with a third bid for Rice, who is valued at around £100m at the London Stadium.
The north Londoners are not prepared to give up in their pursuit of the 24-year-old, who will be allowed to leave West Ham this summer if the club’s valuation is met.
Arsenal had been viewed as frontrunners to sign Rice, but interest from City has opened up the race to sign the England international.
The Premier League champions have made a bid for Rice after Ilkay Gundogan turned down a new contract with the club in favour of a free transfer move to Barcelona.
West Ham are understood to have opened talks with Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria over a move to the club, as the Hammers consider midfield replacements for Rice.
