In a significant development in the summer transfer saga, West Ham United has rejected Arsenal’s initial offer for their captain, Declan Rice. The Gunners’ bid, which was reportedly around £80m with £10m in add-ons, fell short of West Ham’s asking price of at least £100m.
The Hammers’ decision to reject the bid comes as no surprise, given their clear stance on Rice’s value. The 24-year-old midfielder, who has been with West Ham since his youth academy days, has grown into a key figure for the club, leading them to victory in the recent Europa Conference League.
Arsenal, under the stewardship of Mikel Arteta, has shown a keen interest in Rice, making him a top priority in their summer transfer dealings. However, their initial offer has not met West Ham’s expectations, leading to a swift rejection. The Gunners are expected to return with an improved offer.
Adding a twist to the tale, Manchester City is also reportedly exploring a move for Rice. This potential interest from the Premier League champions could complicate matters for Arsenal. Despite this, the Gunners remain confident of securing their top summer transfer target.
West Ham chairman David Sullivan has confirmed that the club has reluctantly agreed to let Rice go this summer. With Rice’s contract running until the summer of 2025, a sale this summer would likely help the club extract full value.
As the transfer saga continues, West Ham is already working hard to identify potential replacements for Rice, with names like Kalvin Phillips, Edson Alvarez, and Joao Palhinha being shortlisted.