Arsenal and Liverpool told to pay 'Bellingham fee' for top transfer target

Suraj Radia

• 9 May 2023 14:27 BST
• 2 min read

Arsenal and Liverpool have been told they must pay a ‘Jude Bellingham-style’ fee for Declan Rice this summer, with West Ham demanding a British transfer record for their captain.

Rice is expected to leave West Ham this summer and is understood to be Arsenal’s top target, while his England teammate Bellingham is also close to joining Real Madrid from Dortmund.

Dortmund are thought to be seeking a fee of up to £130 million for Bellingham, although Real are looking to negotiate for a lower price, and West Ham are monitoring the transfer in the hopes of commanding a similar figure for Rice.

The Hammers will allow Rice to leave if they receive a bid of £120m from a club in the Champions League, however Sky Sports claim they would also accept £100m plus a player for the midfielder.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are expected to compete to sign Rice but no team has indicated that they are willing to come close to West Ham’s demands, with Arsenal believing a fee of £70m is more realistic for the 24-year-old.

Rice is entering the final year of his contract but West Ham have an option to extend for another 12 months, although the player has told the club that he wants to leave and has turned down numerous offers of an extension.

Where will Rice be playing next season?

Arsenal are expected to be front runners to sign Rice, having outlined him as their priority as they look to build on a successful season which has seen the Gunners push for the title.

Man Utd were believed to have made a £100m bid for Rice last summer but it was turned down by the Hammers and Erik ten Hag’s side went on to sign Casemiro.

Chelsea have also been long-time admirers of Rice, who came through the club’s academy as a youngster, but their interest has cooled somewhat since the arrival of new owner Todd Boehly.

Liverpool are in the market for multiple midfielders and will likely pose the biggest threat to Arsenal but the Reds backed out of a deal for Bellingham due to his asking price, meaning they will likely make a similar decision if West Ham hold firm on their demands.

There is still a chance that Rice remains at West Ham if no acceptable bids come in but it would be against his wishes, with the midfielder having been angling for a departure for multiple seasons.