Declan Rice: West Ham trash Man City offer, as Arsenal prepare decisive bid after learning the golden number

West Ham have emphatically rejected the first Man City bid for Declan Rice, while Arsenal intend to up the ante and the golden number that can seal a deal has seemingly been revealed.
Rice, 24, is primed to leave his boyhood club this summer. The England international has courted widespread interest from England’s elite as well as Bayern Munich. However, the transfer race is now boiling down to just two clubs – Arsenal and Man City.
The Gunners were the first to make their move, lodging two bids with the latter worth £90m in total (£75m plus £15m in add-ons).
West Ham rejected the bid and Arsenal fears were heightened when Man City signalled their intention to thunder in with a bid of their own.
Their official bid was lodged on Monday night, with City offering the same £90m amount, though structuring the deal more favourably for the Hammers. Indeed, their offer comprised £80m plus £10m in add-ons.
However, according to both David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano, West Ham have knocked back City’s bid. What’s more, they don’t sound overly impressed with the treble-winners’ approach.
Ornstein tweeted West Ham were left “unimpressed” with Pep Guardiola’s side and “quickly” rejected their offer. Whether City plan to table an improved second bid is not yet clear.
But what is clear is Arsenal fully intend to come back in with a third offer. What’s more, Fabrizio Romano has seemingly revealed the golden number that’ll be enough to seal a deal.
Romano confirmed City’s bid had been rebuffed before adding via Twitter “Arsenal will bid again”.
The new and improved bid is “expected soon”, while West Ham are stated to want an even £100m fee for their midfield talisman.
Whether that is £100m up front or whether the nine-figure sum can contain add-ons wasn’t stated.
In any case, it appears West Ham are content to part ways with Rice if Arsenal serve up a total of just £10m more than their rejected second bid.
In the event both Arsenal and City lodge matching £100m bids, Rice is widely known to favour remaining in London.
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