Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Arsenal learn exact price needed to sign England ace, with Prem transfer record to be smashed after £100m Man Utd bid fails

Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham

Arsenal have been told they will have to break their own transfer record – plus the Premier League transfer record – by some margin in order to land Declan Rice from West Ham.

Rice looks set to end his long association with West Ham in the summer transfer window. He loves the club after all they have done for his career, but he now wants to join a team fighting for league titles and cup triumphs, just like a lot of his England team-mates.

Due to the midfielder’s stance, he has rejected several contract offers from West Ham. His current deal expires in summer 2024, which means David Moyes’ side must sell at the end of the current season to get a good price for him.

Chelsea have previously been viewed as Rice’s most likely next destination. But in the last few months Arsenal have emerged as frontrunners to capture the England ace.

On Saturday, Moyes revealed Arsenal would have to smash the British transfer record to capture Rice. That was broken last month when Enzo Fernandez moved from Benfica to Chelsea for an astonishing £107m.

Then, on Monday, the Daily Mail explained how Arsenal have moved on from Brighton star Moises Caicedo and are prioritising Rice’s arrival instead.

The Gunners have now discovered exactly how much Rice may cost, via an update from talkSPORT presenter Jim White.

He said: “What would it take for a bid to be deemed successful in the next window? It is our understanding £120million, plus add-ons, would get him.

Man Utd fail with £100m offer for Arsenal-linked star

“We understand that Manchester United last summer bid £100m and didn’t get him. Chelsea, Arsenal and United are still in the frame.

“That’s what it would take, £120m plus add-ons.”

It makes sense that Man Utd’s £100m bid for Rice was rejected by West Ham last summer. At the time, Moyes said it would take at least £150m for his side to consider a sale.

Clearly, Man Utd did not agree with this valuation and instead brought in Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Casemiro cost £70m while Eriksen moved to Old Trafford on a free transfer, so the Red Devils saved a lot of money by deciding not to go for Rice.

Arsenal are willing to go big on the 24-year-old as they believe he is the perfect player to take their midfield to the next level. Their record transfer – which is currently the £72m spent on Nicolas Pepe – could fall.

£120m price tag may be exaggeration

However, it would be a big shock if Arsenal spent £120m on Rice. After all, with his contract running down, West Ham’s negotiating position is gradually getting weaker.

As such, while they would love to receive £120m plus add-ons for Rice, it is hard to see him actually going for this amount. Instead, a transfer at around £80m is more likely.

One factor that is playing a big role in Rice’s future is the fact he hopes to remain in London. This is one reason why Chelsea have previously been seen as his main suitors.

But now Arsenal have raced past the Blues and into pole position for Rice. One reason for this will be Chelsea’s signing of Fernandez, which means Rice is no longer a necessity.

Plus, Arsenal are doing far better than Chelsea this season and could end up lifting the league title. Rice is leaving West Ham to win silverware, so the success of his potential next club will play a big role in his decision-making.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli could be followed by two Arsenal stars in penning a new contract at the Emirates.