Arsenal have been handed a potential boost in their pursuit of top summer transfer target Declan Rice…
What’s the word?
In a recent update for The Athletic, journalist Adrian Clarke revealed the West Ham United captain has been asking questions behind-the-scenes about the club ahead of a possible switch.
He said:
“I can’t reveal my source, but I do know that Declan Rice has been sounding out people connected with Arsenal in regards to, ‘What’s it like there? What’s it really like?’, so that sounds like a positive.”
Last month, The Evening Standard claimed the Hammers were resigned to losing the England international in 2023 after failing to tie him down to a new deal despite several attempts, though they are expected to demand a fee north of £100m.
Arsenal’s current record signing is Nicolas Pepe, who cost an eye-watering £72m in August 2019.
Rice would be the icing on the cake
The Gunners are in a strong position in their quest to seal their first Premier League title in nearly a decade. Mikel Arteta’s side are five points clear of defending champions Manchester City – who could yet be handed a points deduction – and hold at least one game in hand over the rest of the top five.
You could argue that their destiny is in their own hands at this stage, so it’ll take a catastrophic run of form to not see them crowned the champions come May.
Adding a player of Rice’s calibre to a title-winning squad would surely be the icing on the cake for most Arsenal supporters. His arrival would surely banish any thoughts of the north Londoners being ‘one-season wonders’ such as Leicester City in recent times.
There is no doubt that the English powerhouse is one of the best young midfielders in Europe and it’s only a matter of time before he swaps the London Stadium for one of the Premier League’s top dogs.
It’s been no secret that Chelsea has long been mooted as his next destination, so to win the race over them – having missed out on Mykhaylo Mudryk in January – would be another signal of intent.
The Irons have endured an inconsistent season so far but Rice has been the knight in shining armour, ranking as David Moyes’ top performer in the top-flight so far (6.94 rating).
Despite doing the business for a pretty average outfit, the 24-year-old star still compares favourably to his positional peers across Europe’s elite divisions, seeing as he’s in the top 6% for pass completion and interceptions per 90, as well as the top 12% for progressive passes and carries per 90, via FBref.
This would make the player, who ESPN UK editor David Cartlidge once lauded as an “absolute monster,” an incredible fit for Arteta’s progressive, build-from-the-back system, in which plenty of young talent features.
Meanwhile, Rice is someone that would take a “team to another level” – in the eyes of former Manchester United defender Paul Parker – so if the Gunners were to kick on from their potential Premier League triumph, then he’s surely a must-sign for sporting director Edu Gaspar.
If the Brazilian can get the Irons star through the door early, then he’d surely round off one hell of a summer for the club.
AND in other news, Arteta could unearth the new Saka in “skilful” Arsenal teen who’s “Hale End’s finest”…
