EXCLUSIVE: Advantage Arsenal as Declan Rice makes Bayern transfer stance clear

Steve Kay

• 9 Jun 2023 11:29 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal hold the advantage in the transfer race to sign West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, FootballTransfers can confirm.

The Rice camp has held talks with Bayern Munich over a possible move, but the England international has his sights set on playing for the Gunners next season.

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Arsenal have already made a £80 million plus bonuses bid for the 24-year-old but there is no agreement in place yet between the Premier League runners-up and Europa Conference League champions West Ham. There is, however, an accord between the Gunners and the player.

Sources have told FootballTransfers that Rice already has personal terms in place with at least two clubs, with Manchester United also interested, but he has his sights set on the Emirates side.

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Rice tells Bayern: thanks, but no thanks

Bayern Munich have made their interest in Rice clear, but the player’s father has spoken to the Bundesliga champions and told them that his son has his heart set on playing in the Premier League.

Initially, Rice wanted to go back to Chelsea, where he spent time in the academy, but now he feels that Arsenal is the best move for his career as Mikel Arteta’s side are better placed to win trophies and will place in the Champions League next season.

As FootballTransfers has previously reported, the transfer fee will be key to unlock this deal. Rice will not force his exit from West Ham if he does not feel that the club will receive appropriate compensation for his departure.

He also wanted to make sure that he left David Moyes’ side in good shape. This, though, has been ticked off largely thanks to West Ham’s European success in midweek, which came via a 2-1 win against Fiorentina in Prague.

Arsenal have already put their transfer offer in for Rice and the Gunners are eager to push on with the deal because they want to finalise Granit Xhaka’s exit to Bayer Leverkusen.