Arsenal are set to bring West Ham hero Declan Rice to the Emirates Stadium, fresh from his Europa Conference League exploits in Prague
(Image credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Arsenal are set to bid £92 million for West Ham United captain Declan Rice, with Hammers chairman David Sullivan admitting that the midfielder will leave this summer.
Rice lifted West Ham's first major trophy since 1980 last night as the East Londoners beat Fiorentina 2-1 with a dramatic late goal to lift the Europa Conference League. The final in Prague may have been the star's final-ever game in a Hammers shirt, however, with rumours that he could be bound for north London or beyond.
After the game, chairman David Sullivan confirmed that their skipper would be departing the club after 245 appearances and that West Ham's attempts at keeping Rice at the London Stadium with a new contract have been unsuccessful.
Declan Rice is congratulated by West Ham United chairman David Sullivan at the end of the Europa Conference League final (Image credit: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
"I think it has to be," Sullivan told talkSPORT when asked if the final was Rice's final appearance for the Hammers. "We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.
"You can't ask for a man who has committed more to us this season. In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements. It's not something we want to happen. We offered him [a] £200,000-a-week [contract] 18 months ago. He turned it down.
"It's cost him £10m to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go. You can't keep a player who doesn't want to be there."
The Telegraph meanwhile have reported that Arsenal are prepared to shell out £92m to sign the England international this summer ahead of rivals Manchester United and Bayern Munich, who also covet his signature.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is said to be a huge admirer of Declan Rice (Image credit: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
This would smash the Gunners' previous record, held by Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe who cost £72m and looks set to leave the club this summer following a season on loan at Nice in Ligue 1.
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.
