Arsenal are prepared to offer West Ham first refusal on the Gunners' outgoing players later this summer. Arsenal chief Edu Gaspar is preparing to submit an improved £100million offer as the north Londoners look to secure a deal to sign Declan Rice ahead of next season.
Arsenal made their first formal offer for the England international on Thursday, but it is thought that West Ham were unhappy with the proposal. The north Londoners were hopeful of paying a base fee of £80million over six years with a further £10million potentially available in add-ons, football.london understands.
Manchester City are among the clubs interested in Rice, while Chelsea and Manchester United have shown a desire to sign him. Bayern Munich, however, are understood to have cooled their interest and are thought to now be out of the race.
Despite City's interest in Rice, Arsenal are hoping to strike a deal with West Ham by offering them the opportunity to negotiate a deal for any player Mikel Arteta is willing to sell this summer. The Hammers have shown an interest in Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah in the past.
A report from The Daily Mail has stated that the Gunners are accelerating negotiations with West Ham following City's renewed interest in Rice. The first refusal offer from Arsenal may give the Hammers a good reason to accept their improved bid - but their remains a few issues that need ironing out before a deal is completed.
West Ham want the guaranteed part of the fee for Rice to be paid in two instalments before 2025. However, the north Londoners are hoping to pay over a longer period of time.
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Other players that are set to be sold by the Gunners include the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Cedric Soares, Kieran Tierney and Folarin Balogun. The latter enjoyed a brilliant loan spell in Ligue 1 last term and is attracting interest from across Europe - but the Hammers could be interested in signing the Hale End graduate as they look to bolster David Moyes' squad.
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