Arsenal have number one summer target HIJACKED in €110m deal

Tom Hancock

• 30 May 2023 12:50 BST
• 3 min read

Bayern Munich could steal the march on Arsenal in the race to sign West Ham star Declan Rice this summer.

The Hammers captain looks likely to leave the East London club as he heads towards the final 12 months of his contract, and the Gunners appear the current favourites so secure his signature.

But Bayern may be about to throw a spanner in the works, with reports linking the Bundesliga champions with a spectacular swoop for the England midfielder, 24.

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According to the Mirror, Bayern – who secured their 11th straight league title on Saturday – are willing to pay €110m (£95m) to lure Rice to Germany.

The report adds that Chelsea also remain interested in their former academy player – although the Blues realistically need to trim their squad first in order to avoid breaching financial fair play (FFP) rules.

As such, the battle for Rice may well end up being a straight shootout between Bayern and Arsenal – whose second-placed Premier League finish marked their best campaign since 2015/16 and means that Champions League football will return to the Emirates Stadium next term.

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Rice keeps on rising

Our in-house Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) model currently rates Rice at €63.2m (£54.6m) – but West Ham are said to have put a price tag of more than double that on their skipper.

Despite the Hammers flirting with relegation from the top flight in 2022/23, it’s been another fine season for Rice – who has helped David Moyes’ side to the final of the Europa Conference League, in which they face Fiorentina next month.

Considered among the best midfielders in the world, Rice has made 244 appearances for West Ham and won 41 caps for England – starting all five of his country’s games en route to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.