West Ham reject Arsenal’s initial bid for Declan Rice

Arsenal’s pursuit of England midfielder Declan Rice has hit a snag as West Ham has turned down their first offer.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has identified Rice as a key target for the transfer window, with reports suggesting that a deal was on the horizon. However, the initial bid put forth by Arsenal has failed to impress the Hammers, as it includes several clauses.

Sources within West Ham indicate that they anticipate further communication from Arsenal regarding Rice, but they are also preparing for a potential bid from Manchester City.

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While City has remained tight-lipped about their interest in Rice, there is speculation about the future of their captain, Ilkay Gundogan, and teammate Bernardo Silva. Should their situations change, City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, may need to enter the transfer market.

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West Ham chairman David Sullivan has publicly stated that he is “99%” certain Rice will depart the club this summer. Rice recently captained the Hammers to victory in the Europa Conference League earlier this month, further raising his profile.

Since making his debut in the 2016-17 season after progressing through the club’s academy, Rice has appeared in 245 games and scored 15 goals for West Ham. He has also earned 41 caps for the England national team, featuring in all five matches during the previous winter’s World Cup.

Although Rice has one year remaining on his contract, West Ham holds the option to extend it until the summer of 2025. This places them in a strong position to negotiate a substantial transfer fee for the talented midfielder.