£105 million for Declan Rice.

Arsenal’s last offer was worth £90 million, spreading £75 million over four payments and the remaining £15 million based on performance add-ons, but this failed to match West Ham’s valuation for Rice which, if we are to believe the tabloids, is £100 million. The latest offer, as reported by the Athletic’s Ornacle, is that Arsenal is paying £100 million upfront, and £5 million based on performance add-ons.

This is unprecedented. This is massive! Arsenal is about to make Declan Rice the most expensive transfer in British history.

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar identified Rice as the prime transfer target this summer and wasted no time in reaching out to West Ham for his services, following the conclusion of the Europa Conference League and the start of the summer transfer window. The gaffer saw Rice as the ideal replacement in the crater-like leadership void that Granit Xhaka was going to create with his imminent departure to Bayer Leverkusen. Rice is also adept playing as a No. 8 alongside Thomas Partey, or as a No. 6, should he take Partey’s place in the team to play alongside Kai Havertz. In a worst case scenario or injury crisis, he can also play as a center back, which will make him invaluable and indispensable to the first team.

For a transfer of this magnitude, especially with £100 million paid upfront, I will expect Arsenal to try to balance their books with some sales, and while we have some deadwood to clear out like Nicolas Pepe, Cedric Soares and maybe Rob Holding and Albert Sambi Lokonga, Arsenal will be looking to get top dollar from the likes of Folarin Balogun, who fancies a move out of the Emirates Stadium and maybe Thomas Partey, with the Saudi Arabia vultures swarming around him. 

It is also believed that the deal for Kai Havertz is already sorted, with the German maestro having his medical early this week, as well as a potential move on the cards for Ajax’s Jurrien Timber and Caliber, this would essentially mean that Arsenal would have splurged £200m on three players. These are all world class additions to the squad and with the Gunner competing in four tournaments – Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup (you can even add the Community Shield against Manchester City to the mix), Arteta will need the support of the entire squad to push through the season.

On one side, Arsenal has made an incredible bid of £105 million for Declan Rice. On the other side is West Ham, receiving this offer and forced with a decision to make. Accept the offer and allow Rice to discuss personal terms with Arsenal (which I believe must have been agreed since), pass his medicals and send the Arsenal universe to delirium. Or stall the offer, and wait for Manchester City to match the bid and continue the saga. Or reject the offer entirely, leaving Arsenal no choice but to end this Rice pursuit and face other potential targets, like Romeo Lavia of Southampton. 

The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, yes, the guy who told us that Rice favors a move to Arsenal over Manchester City, tweeted that West Ham neither accepted or rejected the offer, which adds more fuel to the fire that is the Declan Rice transfer saga. There’s only so much they can actually hold out, but Arsenal, Declan Rice and the rest of the football world awaits West Ham’s decision after the Mother of all Offers for their prized asset. 

Let’s hope common sense prevails.

Sayonara.

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