Arsenal have been linked extensively with Declan Rice – but according to one former player, they may not break the bank for him
(Image credit: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Arsenal won't be paying over the odds for Declan Rice, according to one former star.
The north Londoners have been linked with a huge move for the West Ham United captain, with a figure as big as £100 million touted. Arsenal eight points clear at the top of the table, likely to qualify for the Champions League next season and will likely invest heavily in their squad this summer.
But despite more money being available to manager Mikel Arteta, one former Gunner says that the club won't be paying any more for Rice than what they believe him to be worth.
Arsenal have spent carefully under Mikel Arteta – and that's not about to change (Image credit: Getty)
"I think Arsenal will never break the bank for a player that they do not think is worth it," former Arsenal star Eduardo da Silva told Betway, when asked if he thought the Gunners could sign Rice this summer.
"For example, for Mykhailo Mudryk, Arsenal submitted an £80m bid for him, but Chelsea bid £100m. Clearly, Arsenal did not think the price tag was worth it."
The former Croatia international who spent three seasons in the Premier League hastened to add that should Arsenal spend nine figures on Rice, it would be so because they felt that the player was worthy of that fee.
"However, if they were going to spend £100m on Declan Rice, that must mean the club thinks that he is worthy of that value," he added. Despite thinking that the Gunners could spend a lot of money this summer, Eduardo added that it wouldn't be a "crazy" window for the club.
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Eduardo doesn't think Arsenal will pay over the odds for any player (Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
"They may sell some players and if they do, they will surely need to replace them," Eduardo said. "However, if Arsenal keep the same team next season, I don’t think they will go crazy in the transfer window. They may buy a young player and mould him to fit their ideologies, but we will have to wait and see."
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
