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Arsenal ready to break club’s transfer record to sign Rice

By on February 13, 2023

Declan-Rice

Arsenal are reportedly prepared to break the club’s transfer record to lure West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice to the Emirates Stadium next summer, as per the transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Gunners’ record signing is Nicolas Pepe who joined the club back in 2019 from LOSC Lille for a fee of around £72m. However, that move didn’t pan out for the Ivory Coast international as he failed to find his feet in the Premier League before being sent out on a season-long loan to OGC Nice at the beginning of this term.

Meanwhile, the North London club are reportedly keen on bolstering their engine room following the conclusion of this season and they have identified Rice as their priority target.

The midfielder has previously revealed his intention of playing in the Champions League and therefore he has turned down an offer of signing a renewal with David Moyes’ side. It has widely been suggested that the Englishman could leave the London Stadium at the end of this season and Arsenal are seemingly looking to take advantage of that situation.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that West Ham want a British transfer record – Enzo Fernandez, who joined Chelsea this winter for a fee of around £107m, is currently the most expensive player in English football’s history  – fee to sell Rice next summer and have slapped a whopping £110m price tag on his head.

Rice to Arsenal

But, the journalist states that although Arsenal are ready to break the club’s transfer record to sign Rice, they don’t want to spend over £100m to get this deal done. And Jones feels that the £110m valuation is ‘unrealistic’.

Jones said:

“I think Arsenal are definitely willing to break their own transfer record to sign Declan Rice, but I’m not sure they’re going to go above and beyond £100m and break the British record.

“I think West Ham will be hopeful that that happens. They’re hopeful that they can get £110m for Rice. I can understand why they would set their stall out at that level. I’m just not 100% sure that it’s realistic.”

The 24-year-old’s current contract will run until June 2024 and there is an option to extend the deal for one more year. So, the Hammers are in a solid position to ask a big fee to sell their star man if they are forced to cash in on him next summer.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will be able to broker a deal for Rice next summer. With the Gunners looking to strengthen their midfield department for next season, the 24-year-old would be an ideal signing if they manage to get this deal done.