West Ham United are reportedly prepared for a bidding war between a host clubs for Declan Rice, with current front-runners Arsenal not willing to meet the Hammers’ asking price.
After captaining his team to Europa Conference League glory at the expense of Serie A side Fiorentina on Wednesday night, the England international may have played his final game for the club as transfer speculation intensifies.
The 24-year-old was named West Ham’s Player of the Season for a second year running after helping David Moyes‘s men to European success and a relatively-comfortable 14th-placed finish in the Premier League.
According to 90min, Arsenal are unwilling to meet West Ham’s £100m asking price for Rice this summer, although the Gunners remain confident of being able to secure the services of the midfielder.
It is believed that Mikel Arteta‘s men are prepared to pay £80m plus add-ons which would take the financial package received by the London Stadium club to £90m.
The report adds that Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also interested in Rice, with West Ham hoping a bidding war will be sparked that could take his transfer fee in excess of £100m.
Despite fierce competition from some of Europe’s biggest clubs for the midfielder’s signature, Arsenal remain optimistic that the Emirates is Rice’s preferred destination this summer and that a deal can be agreed.
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