Arsenal ‘close’ to meeting £100m asking price and contract for top target will be ‘sealed quickly’
According to reports, Arsenal intend to make a new offer for Declan Rice and this bid will be ‘closer’ to West Ham United’s asking price.
It has been widely reported in recent months that Rice is going to be Arsenal’s top target this summer after they were unable to buy Moises Caicedo from Brighton in January.
Rice has been a sensational asset for the Hammers and he is clearly deserving of a major move elsewhere.
On Tuesday afternoon, it was revealed that Arsenal have made their second offer for Rice, which is understood to be worth an initial £75m plus £15m in potential add-ons.
It has since been reported by various outlets that this bid has been rejected, but Arsenal were always going to return with a third proposal and The Daily Mail reckon this will be submitted soon. They explain.
‘It has been indicated to Mail Sport that Arsenal are willing to meet Rice’s £100m valuation. Their next offer will be closer to that mark.
‘Rice wants to join Arsenal and remains hopeful he will be a Gunners player by the end of the month.
‘Personal terms – well in-excess of £200,000-per-week – will be formally sealed quickly once West Ham and Arsenal agree a fee.’
Graeme Souness is slightly concerned for Arsenal regarding their interest in Rice as he reckons the midfielder is a “little bit predictable”.
“If you’re looking for a top, top midfield player, I don’t believe he has enough cute passing in him to be that,” Souness told talkSPORT.
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“I think he’d be a really good guy, he’d be great to work with, extremely athletic, he senses danger so he’s got that part of a central midfield player’s game, he’s got that.
“He can get himself into positions where the guys he is playing against that want to find the striker or make a cute pass, he knows that and not everyone can get that.
“So he’s got that instinctively, but what he doesn’t have is cute and clever passes when he gets into the last third.
“I think he’s a little bit predictable when he gets on the ball personally.”
He added: “[James] Maddison has got that final ball. I’m not sure if that’s something he [Rice] can develop.
“I think that’s something you’ve got or you’ve not got, there’s no doubt he would be an asset to whoever takes him, and I bet he’s a great boy to work with.
“This is not a criticism, we’re talking about someone worth £100m. But for me, the top midfield players have what he has, and have the cuteness of play further up the field, and they’ll score goals and they create chances.”
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