Declan Rice to Arsenal: Why even a €150m deal will be difficult

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 18 Jan 2023 11:38 GMT
• 4 min read

Declan Rice had fallen under the radar somewhat recently. Not in terms of his performance and output on the pitch, but the furore about his future had calmed, those links to Chelsea, which at one point were at fever pitch, had seemed to have settled.

That was until this week’s bombshell story in The Times claiming that Arsenal were planning a move on the Premier League star.

Of course, interest remains from the Blues over their former academy player, but it’s now Arsenal who appear to be in pole position.

The report says that the England international is Mikel Arteta’s number-one target for the summer as he looks to bolster the position occupied by Thomas Partey.

READ MORE: How Arsenal will line up with Declan Rice

Had such links been a year ago, it would have been laughed off - but indeed Arsenal are now considered favourites for the Premier League title while Chelsea’s chances of landing a top-four spot this season look slim.

Arsenal gunning for Rice summer move

While away for international duty at the Qatar World Cup, at a press conference, Rice admitted that he has his eye on playing in Europe’s elite competition.

”Like you said I see my friends here who are playing Champions League football, winning the trophies,” he explained. “You only get one career and at the end of your career you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.”

You couldn’t have asked for a bigger hint.

The trajectory of Arsenal has been stunning, and undoubtedly they are in a position now where they can look to attract some of the best players out there to push on with.

The story suggests Rice could become Arsenal’s record signing, currently Nicolas Pepe, and help fulfil their profile of being one of England’s top clubs and rightly title contenders for years to come.

The midfielder is also open to a move to the Emirates, the story claims, but given that the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and even third-place Newcastle are after someone of his calibre and position, the deal will be by no means smooth sailing.

Rice ticks a lot of boxes for various clubs at the moment: he has that dogged personality that Erik ten Hag looks for in his players and provides the defensive edge and ball-carrying ability that Eddie Howe needs in his.

He has those sentimental links to Chelsea while Man City have the financial might to draw the biggest stars going to the Etihad.

The Hammers captain is still under contract with West Ham until 2024 - while the club have an option for an extra year.

The price will therefore be north of €100m and given the level of interest, maybe closer to €150m.

There may also be a reluctance to sell to a rival London club given Rice’s relationship with his current side - West Ham may look to make a sale to Arsenal or Chelsea as tricky as possible, without turning the affair into an ugly saga for their captain’s sake.

The 24-year-old has bags of Premier League experience and still has room to develop as a player under a new coach. Some say Rice is the best No.6 in the world at the moment and so a move, if made, will come at a huge price and in lieu of a plethora of rival interest. Arsenal have committed their intentions in the public forum as a sign of confidence, but there will still be plenty of twists to the Rice tale yet.