Arsenal's key Declan Rice transfer advantage Man City can't match

Stuart Telford

• 24 Jun 2023 02:34 CDT
• 3 min read

Arsenal remain in the driving seat to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice this summer, despite Manchester City entering the race for the England midfielder.

Arsenal and West Ham have yet to agree on a transfer fee, primarily down to how achievable £15 million in add-ons would be after an initial £75m payment, but it is understood the player would rather join the Gunners than Man City or Bayern Munich.

Arsenal hold one key advantage in that they are London-based and Rice isn't keen to leave the British capital and therefore his family, whom he remains close to, but the Gunners have another ace up their sleeve.

READ: Arsenal or Man City? Declan Rice quote hints at transfer destination

Mikel Arteta is planning a rebuild at Arsenal this summer after missing out on the Premier League title last season, and Rice will be the cornerstone upon which next season's title tilt will be built.

With Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey on the way to Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus respectively, Rice will be Arsenal's undisputed first choice at defensive midfield.

Rice at the wheel

"We have to nail everything we do, and seek excellence in everything we touch," Arteta said of Arsenal's summer transfer business. "We explain who we are, how we do things, what we want from [our targets], how we think they'll fit in our culture, then try to do the right thing as a club.

"Buy the right profile for the right amount of money that is going to fit what we are going to do, and, in the end, players and staff are going to make our car faster and more reliable to have a great season."

READ: Havertz, Rice and Timber: Is Arteta trying to rip off Guardiola?

Crucially, Rice has been convinced he will be in the driving seat of that faster car - which is not something Man City can promise him.

Rice need only look at his England teammate Kalvin Phillips as he weighs up a potential move to the Etihad. Phillips joined City from Leeds in a £45m transfer last summer, but only made two Premier League starts despite overcoming a shoulder injury midway through the season.

Phillips has Rodri and now John Stones in his way in his favoured position in Manchester, and so too might Rice.

As with Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, Rice has a very clear role to play at Arsenal, and that could ultimately prove key in the Gunners' pursuit of the Hammers captain.