EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal AGREE personal terms with Declan Rice

Steve Kay

• 2 Jun 2023 13:48 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal have edged closer to the signing of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, with sources having told FootballTransfers that the Emirates side have agreed personal terms with the 24-year-old star.

The Gunners have been working steadily towards a transfer for several weeks, with FootballTransfers exclusively reporting on 13 May that talks had been opened with West Ham over a transfer fee for the England player.

Terms of Rice’s contract have been agreed, with the player having made Arsenal his preferred club since January.

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Although personal terms are no longer a problem for Mikel Arteta’s side with regards this deal, there are potential issues to get the transfer over the line.

Arsenal have not reached an accord with West Ham over the player’s transfer fee yet, while FootballTransfers understands that Rice, although eager to move to the Champions League side, also wants to see the club where he has been since he was 14 adequately compensated for his departure.

This could get open the door for the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool or Bayern Munich to make a late hijack attempt for the player.

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The good news for Arsenal, though, is that none of these clubs are thought to be in a position whereby they could significantly trump the Gunners. Liverpool and Bayern are typically reticent to pay the type of big-money that West Ham expect for Rice, while Man Utd are being stymied by the club’s takeover, which is in limbo.

Arteta’s men, while, are progressing on their two main midfield targets, with Brighton confident a deal can be done for Moises Caicedo after Arsenal learned the Ecuador international’s asking price.

Newcastle confident of landing Maddison

If Arsenal are leading the race for Declan Rice, they find themselves in a more difficult position regarding James Maddison, who is a player they have not been so intently linked with.

Instead, Newcastle are confident on landing the Leicester player, with the St James’ Park team believing that a combination of more game time and more money than the 26-year-old might get at Arsenal will lead him to the emerging powerhouse in the north east.