Arsenal have submitted an improved proposal to West Ham United as they look to wrap up a deal to sign Declan Rice.
According to The Athletic, the Gunners have tabled a bid worth £105 million, comprising an initial fee of £100m and an extra £5m in add-ons.
Arsenal are looking to fend off interest from Manchester City for the Hammers captain after the Cityzens submitted an opening bid worth £90m on Monday.
The Gunners have already seen two bids rejected for Rice, but their latest proposal matches West Ham’s valuation, with the Hammers keen for a fee worth more than £100m.
It remains to be seen if Man City will match the proposal as both clubs go head to head for the England international, but Arsenal are convinced Rice will choose them if it goes down to the wire.
Rice is on the cusp of getting his long-desired exit from West Ham this summer after rejecting several approaches from the club to extend his contract even further.
With his current deal set to expire next year, West Ham were always going to lose the 24-year-old this summer, but they have put their foot down on his valuation and will get their desired asking price from his departure.
The England international will leave London Stadium as a European champion after leading the Hammers to Europa Conference League glory in Prague.
Suffice it to say he has written his name in the tablets of West Ham folklore, and the Hammers faithful will remember him as one of their finest-ever players.
If they prevail over the newly crowned European champions, Mikel Arteta will be getting his hands on one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.
Rice is adept at protecting the back line but breaking up opposition play with relative ease is his bread and butter, and the Englishman will prove an instant upgrade to an ageing Arsenal midfield.
Arsenal will break their record transfer fee if the move for Rice materialises. It would also be a Premier League record fee for a British player – a title currently held by Jack Grealish, who cost Man City a whopping £100m.
