Ornstein reveals £100m Arsenal transfer hinges on Declan Rice’s future

Robin Bairner

3 May 2024 12:00 CDT
3 min read

David Ornstein has announced that Arsenal are plotting a potential £100 million transfer for the summer window, but whether they follow through on this will hinge on Mikel Arteta’s plans for Declan Rice.

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Rice has been a roaring success at the Emirates Stadium since making a club-record €117 million move from West Ham last summer, often thriving in a more advanced role than he was given with the Hammers under David Moyes.

Transfer news expert Ornstein, though, says that Rice could be shuffled back into the No.6 position over the summer.

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If Arteta decides he does not want the England star playing so deep, he is planning a potential raid for Newcastle central midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

“Arsenal really like Bruno as an option if they are to recruit a No.6. He can also operate at No.8 - but Newcastle, Arsenal and others view him as a No.6,” Ornstein told GiveMeSport on the potential deal.

“Arsenal also have a long-standing interest in [Martin] Zubimendi for that position and no doubt there will be more candidates on their list.

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“However, if it is decided Rice will play at No.6 permanently (and depending on what happens with other Arsenal players in that role, like Partey and Lokonga), it is not guaranteed they will recruit a No.6 and may instead focus on a No.8.

“Bruno has a £100m release clause (with activation dates, as has been reported). I'm not sure if Arsenal or anyone else will want/be able to pay that level of money for him, although there are always other solutions that can be explored to try to make such a signing possible.”