Arsenal are set to make a third Offer for Declan Rice inside 48 hours after Manchester City finally tabled their formal bid for the West Ham captain worth £90million.
Arsenal will imminently counter with an improvement on their own £90million offer that was rejected last week, though the forthcoming proposal will not be in direct response to City’s bid.
City’s offer comprises of a guaranteed £80million plus an extra £10m in add-ons.
The proposal beats Arsenal’s previous rejected bid of a guaranteed £75million plus an additional £15million in bonuses.
It remains to be seen if City’s offer is accepted by West Ham, but the bid will focus Arsenal’s efforts to sign Rice, who is Mikel Arteta’s No 1 target.
Manchester City have made a formal offer of £80m plus £10m in add-ons for Declan Rice
City manager Pep Guardiola (L) is determined to beat Mikel Arteta (R) to the signing of Rice
Pertinently, West Ham value Rice at £100million, a price City have fallen short of.
And indications on Monday night were that West Ham were minded to reject City’s offer.
Sources claim that Arsenal’s third offer will be closer towards the Hammers’ £100m valuation.
The payment structure is also emerging as a factor, with the Hammers wanting the guaranteed portion of the fee for Rice to be paid in two instalments before 2025.
Rice has been heavily linked with Arsenal since before the transfer window opened but a deal has yet to be struck.
City, meanwhile, have lost Ilkay Gundogan, with Barcelona confirming on Monday that they have signed the German international on a two-year deal.
City are close to the signing of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea for £25million but still want to sign Rice.
Chelsea’s Kai Havertz is on the verge of joining Arsenal and could partner Rice in midfield should he choose to join the Gunners
City need midfield reinforcements after losing Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona this week
Rice’s vast amount of Premier League experience – he has played over 200 times in the division – makes him an attractive proposition, as does the fact that at the age of 24 he has time on his side to improve even further.
Arsenal are also closing in on the signing of Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £65million.
Mikel Arteta’s side have also made an improved bid of £41.5million for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber.
However, they especially want to sign Rice as part of a midfield overhaul this summer, with Granit Xhaka likely to join Bayer Leverkusen while Thomas Partey could also depart.
Arteta sees Rice as a potential future captain of Arsenal.
If Arsenal are unable to sign Rice then Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana could be a potential alternative option.
