Declan Rice has been a target for Arsenal for several weeks and months prior to the summer transfer window, but reports from Germany indicate the deal has already been finalised.
Many people have speculated about Rice’s future, with Arsenal being the front-runners to sign him. Though Thomas Tuchel is reportedly interested in having the West Ham United captain in his midfield, Bayern Munich has emerged as a potential destination for the Englishman in recent weeks.
Following the club’s victory in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday, West Ham chairman David Sullivan even predicted that Rice would leave the team; he added that they wouldn’t stand in his way if they received a good offer.
However, the German publication Ran is now reporting that Rice’s transfer to Arsenal is inevitable and that Bayern’s efforts to sabotage the deal were fruitless.
Declan Rice reportedly told David Sullivan a while ago that he was only going to Arsenal, according to a source who spoke to the publication.
Actually, this transaction has been finalised for some time.
Rice is expected to set a new transfer record for Arsenal after costing about £85 million. Pepe, an Ivorian who cost £72 million when he joined Arsenal from Nice in the summer of 2019, is currently the club’s most expensive acquisition.
After England’s Euro 2024 qualifying matches this month against North Macedonia and Malta, Rice is likely to wait until after to sign any contract at the Emirates Stadium.
The majority of the team will gather at St. George’s Park on Monday, June 12 for training prior to those matches, but Rice and the five Manchester City players who were selected by Gareth Southgate will report after their respective triumphs in Europe.
Last Wednesday, West Ham defeated Fiorentina 2-1 to win the Europa League Conference title, and on Saturday night, Manchester City defeated Inter Milan to win the Champions League and complete an unprecedented treble.
