What Arsenal told West Ham after Manchester City’s opening £90m bid for Declan Rice

What Arsenal told West Ham after Manchester City’s opening £90m bid for Declan Rice Arsenal have reached out to West Ham to make it clear they will make a third offer for Declan Rice worth almost £100m after the Hammers rejected Manchester City’s opening bid for the midfielder. The Gunners are in a battle with Premier League champions Man City to sign Rice but remain quietly confident of winning the race. Arsenal identified Rice as their top summer target several months ago and have tabled two offers for the England star, the second worth £90m. But West Ham value Rice, 24, at £100m and were not only unhappy with the money on the table but also how Arsenal’s deal was structured. Rice has not only emerged as West Ham’s most important player in recent seasons but also a key member of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, featuring heavily at last year’s Qatar World Cup. If Rice does leave east London this summer, he will have helped West Ham win the Europa Conference League – their first major trophy since 1980 – in his final game for the club. Manchester United have also been tentatively linked with the Hammers hero but John Barnes believes Rice should secure a move to the Emirates Stadium.