Man City ‘explore conditions’ of deal for £30m Arsenal man; Gunners learn huge Rice asking price

Lewis Oldham
Arsenal transfer target Declan Rice
Declan Rice is reportedly very close to joining Arsenal.

Arsenal have reportedly been told that they will have to pay £100m to sign Declan Rice this summer as West Ham are ‘refusing to budge’.

The Gunners are set to miss out on the Premier League title following their 4-1 defeat against Man City at the Etihad on Thursday night.

In the coming weeks, their focus will switch to the summer as they attempt to strengthen their squad. One of their priorities is to sign a new midfielder as they are short of options in that area of the pitch.

It has been widely reported over the past couple of months that Rice is their priority target ahead of the summer. 

The England international has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and he is in fine form for West Ham. He got on the scoresheet against AFC Bournemouth and Gent as he has helped the Hammers to move away from the relegation zone and qualify for the Europa Conference League semi-finals.

Rice is under contract until 2024 but it is understood that West Ham have the option to extend his deal on the same terms until 2025.

Football Insider are reporting that West Ham are ‘demanding £100m’ for Rice and they are ‘refusing to budge on their asking price’.

Arsenal are still growing ‘increasingly confident’ they will sign Rice with Chelsea ‘facing financial limitations after spending big since new owner Todd Boehly’s arrival’.

They add: ‘The Irons’ captain is believed to be keen to stay in the capital if he joins a new club in the summer and fellow London club Arsenal believed they will win the race to his signature.’

A separate report from Football Insider claims Man City are ‘actively working to find out if a deal can be done with Arsenal over the transfer of Kieran Tierney’.

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The defender has slipped down the pecking order at Arsenal following the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko. He has only started five times in the Premier League this term.

City boss Pep Guardiola has ‘highlighted both full-back positions as key areas to add depth’ and Tierney is a ‘target’. The report adds.

‘It is understood that Tierney is open to a move and the potential of a fresh challenge with his name on a number of clubs’ targets lists.

‘Man City are exploring the conditions of a deal, including how much Tierney would cost and if he would be interested in a move to the Etihad.

‘The likelihood of the former Celtic man leaving Arsenal this summer is high despite manager Mikel Arteta’s refusal to admit the possibility and continuing to say he has high hopes for Tierney at Arsenal.

‘Privately, the north Londoners are believed to value the Scot at around the £30million mark and that could be enough to seal a deal for him.’

READ MORE: Arsenal title hopes ruined by stubborn Arteta as Guardiola, Aurier and Alexander-Arnold impress