Arsenal are reportedly prepared to smash a club record in an attempt to bring Declan Rice to the Emirates Stadium this summer…
What is the latest on Declan Rice to Arsenal?
During the January transfer window, The Guardian revealed that the West Ham United midfielder was their top target ahead of next season and were confident of signing him ahead of Premier League rivals and long-term admirers, Chelsea.
Manchester United have also kept a close eye on developments, as per the report, but it does seem like the stars are aligning for the Gunners.
Transfer insider and journalist Dean Jones has recently provided a view on the matter, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, where he 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.”
Is Rice worth a club-record fee?
Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar would have to usurp the £72m he spent on Nicolas Pepe back in 2019 to sign Rice and unlike the former Lille dynamo, the England international would be worth every penny.
The Brazilian supremo has endured a mixed bag in the transfer market, with Pepe perhaps the worst of the dealings he’s been involved in. However, there has been more good than bad, such is the case with the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and William Saliba.
Perhaps he’d even eclipse the signing of the Norwegian sensation signing by bringing Rice to north London.
If Arsenal were to win the league this season, few players would be a substantial upgrade to a title-winning squad but with the Hammers skipper, he’d not only be a ready-made powerhouse but one that can impact the club’s fortunes for years to come.
Rice is arguably one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, if not in Europe, and in the words of ex-footballer Paul Parker, he “takes your team to another level.”
The Irons have struggled for consistency this campaign but one beacon of hope has been Rice’s presence in the heart of the pitch, where his performances have made him by far and away David Moyes’ best-performing player, per WhoScored figures.
With passing, intercepting and blocking listed as some of the 24-year-old’s strongest attributes, it’s perhaps no surprise to see him rank inside the top 5% for all midfielders across Europe’s top-five divisions for interceptions per 90, as well as the top 7% for pass completion, via FBref.
It’s also why Rice, who has been capped 39 times by England, has been hailed as an “absolute monster” by ESPN UK editor David Cartlidge and is, subsequently, why he’d be one of the Gunners’ greatest signings in the modern era.
Fast approaching 200 appearances in the big time, there are fewer suitable players that Edu could splash a record fee on, so if the Hammers want well over £72m, then the Arsenal chief ought pay it.
AND in other news, Edu had Arsenal transfer howler on £80m “jewel”, he’d have completed Arteta’s midfield…
