Arsenal are closing a deal with West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice for the record-breaking sum, various English media report on Tuesday.Even the Hammers’ chairman David Sullivan confirmed Rice’s exit after the Europa Conference League triumph.”I think it has to be,” Sullivan told talkSPORT when asked if the final was Rice’s final appearance. “We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.”Bayern Munich have pulled out of the race to sign Declan Rice as he is close to joining Arsenal, per @altobelli13 pic.twitter.com/9IOyO5ixwM— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 13, 2023 Now, The Guardian has reported that Arsenal “will face no issues when it comes to personal terms” and that the move is progressing quickly, with the 24-year-old Mikel Arteta’s top target. “A bid is yet to be submitted, but talks between the clubs are progressing smoothly and there is confidence that the deal will be finalised soon,” the report states. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7312019##The move would see Rice potentially replace Granit Xhaka as a No.8 in Arteta’s 4-3-3. A year has passed, but Arsenal’s Pepe-shaped problem has notThe deal could become Arsenal’s most expensive transfer, and the previous record was set by Nicolas Pepe in 2019, with the Ivorian causing a headache for Arteta and the club’s boardroom.West Ham’s captain is valued at €80m by Transfermarkt.
