EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal very close on Rice deal but Man Utd trying late hijack

Steve Kay

• Updated: 28 May 2023 14:38 BST
• 4 min read

Arsenal are “confident” of landing West Ham midfielder Declan Rice on a massive summer transfer, sources have told FootballTransfers, but there is the prospect of a late move from Manchester United for the 24-year-old midfielder.

Rice has made the Gunners his preference for a deal – as first confirmed by FootballTransfers back in January transfer window – and the Emirates Stadium side are particularly confident that things on the player’s side are progressing particularly well.

Meanwhile, transfer talks are more advanced than being widely reported, according to a source close to the deal.

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Man Utd, though, are offering a late threat to Arsenal’s hopes of landing Rice, though according to another source, they are not starting from a position of strength, with the London side said to be “very close” to a deal.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has identified the midfield sector as one area that he would like to strengthen in the summer, and even if the Rice deal is completed, it is possible that Chelsea’s Mason Mount or Brighton’s Moises Caicedo could follow thereafter.

Indeed, Caicedo could be used as an inverted full-back – a role he has played regularly for Brighton this season.

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Arsenal focused on Rice deal

Rice, though, is Arsenal’s primary focus for the time being, with the transfer progressing steadily. Granit Xhaka would not have been allowed to make his move to Bayer Leverkusen if the deal was not moving forward positively, FootballTransfers understands.

Arsenal have been told the figure that West Ham expect for the England international, and the Gunners have held talks over the structure of the deal. FootballTransfers exclusively broke this news earlier this month.

Instead, Arteta’s side are working on the structure of the deal, which will be vital to the success of any transfer bid.

Rice has potentially two games left to play for the Hammers – with a Premier League encounter with Leicester on Sunday followed by the Conference League final against Fiorentina on Wednesday. His transfer to Arsenal could accelerate even faster once these events are over.