Declan Rice to Arsenal transfer: Man City twist, Gunners change mind, wage revealed, Chelsea prediction

The future of West Ham United and England international Declan Rice has been the talking topic of the summer transfer window so far for Arsenal fans. The Gunners have had to fight off interest from Manchester United and Manchester City as they look to land Mikel Arteta's number-one target this window.

The Spanish boss clearly believed that Rice is the missing puzzle piece in an Arsenal side which so nearly claimed a famous Premier League trophy last season. Here's all the latest from the ongoing transfer saga.

Arsenal navigate Man City bid banana skin

Manchester City have today pulled out of the race for Declan Rice's signature, leaving Arsenal free to negotiate with West Ham over a bumper deal.

The Champions' interest in Rice looked a potential late banana skin for Mikel Arteta and the Gunners' pursuit of Rice, although talkSPORT pundit Eniola Aluko made an off-the-wall suggestion that the two bosses could be in cahoots with any City bid coming at the request of the Arsenal manager.

As reported by LondonWorld this morning, Pep Guardiola's side are to turn attentions to other midfield targets after deeming the £100 million plus fee wanted by the Hammers as too much for the England international.

Arsenal change their mind on budget

The Declan Rice saga has become so drawn out due to West Ham United owner David Sullivan driving a hard bargain for his midfield star. Arsenal initially sent the London club an £80 million bid for Rice which was rejected by the Hammers. An increased £90 million bid was then sent by Arsenal, the same fee offered by Manchester City, but once again rejected by Sullivan and colleagues.

The Gunners then found an extra £15 million to add to the fee, submitting a renewed £105 million offer, a sum that would equal the British record fee paid for Manchester City to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa in 2021. It is believed £105 million would be enough for the Hammers to let Rice leave.

What Rice has said on the transfer saga

Declan Rice has stayed tight-lipped on the transfer debacle himself and refused to admit that he was leaving West Ham in an interview at the end of the season.

After lifting the Europa Conference League trophy in Prague, he told BT Sport: “There’s a lot of speculation going on about my future. Obviously there is interest from other clubs, that’s out there, but ultimately I’ve still got two years left at West Ham.

“I love this club, I love playing for this club. There hasn’t been anything yet. My focus is playing for West Ham, enjoying tonight and seeing what happens. I’m captain of this club and absolutely love it to pieces. I cannot speak highly enough of this place, let’s just see what happens.”

More recently, in a viral TikTok video, Rice was quizzed by a cheeky young football fan when spotted out and about. Asked where he'd be moving this summer, a coy Rice replied: "Nowhere, I'm West Ham."

What pundits have said about the transfer

Pundits from across the footballing world have been weighing in on the Declan Rice transfer saga. Jamie Carragher said: "I always felt he [Rice] would end up at Chelsea, but he could go to Arsenal and it could go great for him. He’s a step up from what they’ve got but there is no guarantee he will go on to win the biggest trophies with them."

Meanwhile, Danny Murphy told talkSPORT he felt Declan Rice may have to go on strike to force through a move and that should a Manchester City offer be accepted, the midfielder would be sure to choose to join Pep Guardiola and his men.

Murphy said: "It may get to a point where Declan has got a decision to make - has he got the courage to kick up to get out if he needs to? I know he's not that type of lad but sometimes you have to be Craig Bellamy, Joey Barton - you've got to look after yourself.

"It means you have to make it perfectly clear, 'If you keep me here I won't be playing', and even if you don't really believe it long-term, you have to do it and make them believe. Is it a professional thing to do? It doesn't matter. You've got to look after yourself. The big question mark for Dec is if Man City do come in late, the choice over whether to leave London or not.

"London is his home, it's where he's grown up, it's where his family is, but as a football decision, it would be a no-brainer to join the Premier League champions. If you had a choice between City and Arsenal, although Arsenal are on a great trajectory, you'd pick City all day long."

Declan Rice to Arsenal deal information

The latest fee offered from Arsenal to West Ham on Tuesday was a huge £100 million plus £5 million of add-ons. That should be enough for West Ham to allow contract negotiations to begin, however, there is a sticking point over the logistics of the fee.

Arsenal want to pay the £105 million in instalments over a number of years, but West Ham want the money in one lump sum up front.

LondonWorld expects that those details will be ironed out and the transfer will be completed over the next 48 hours. According to the Daily Star, it is believed Rice will be offered a £240,000 a week contract at the Emirates Stadium, a significant increase on his current £60,000 a week.