Here is your morning Arsenal digest on Sunday, June 25.
Rice showdown
Arsenal are bracing themselves for showdown talks in the race to sign Declan Rice. The 24-year-old continues to be heavily linked with a big move this summer following his impressive performances for West Ham.
football.london understands that the Gunners will beat the Premier League champions to Rice if they either table an offer that exceeds £100million or one which guarantees a significant fee to be paid upfront. It's believed that the Englishman prefers a move to the Emirates Stadium, but he'd be open to joining City if they manage to blow Arsenal out of the water with a larger bid.
Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, the north Londoners have confirmed to West Ham that they plan to submit one final bid for Rice after their latest proposal was rejected. The Italian journalist added that City are also preparing an official bid, though it remains to be seen how much Pep Guardiola's side will offer.
Read the full story here.
Guendouzi clause
If Arsenal do end up signing Rice this summer then they could be in a position to recoup a percentage of the transfer fee immediately, with Matteo Guendouzi previously been tipped for a return to England as a potential replacement for the West Ham captain.
Of course, the Frenchman only left the Emirates Stadium on a permanent basis last summer following a successful loan spell in the 2021/22 season but according to The Athletic, Arsenal negotiated a sell-on clause with Marseille meaning they will pocket a percentage of the transfer fee if he does leave the Orange Velodrome.
It's not clear as to what the exact percentage is, but with a €30million (£25million) valuation, as per CIES Football Observatory, one can assume that the Gunners are in line to benefit financially if the Ligue 1 outfit make a profit on Guendouzi - whom they signed for a reported £9.4million - and it just so happens that West Ham could play a role in helping to make that happen.
Read the full story here.
READ NEXT: Declan Rice has already been sent honest Arsenal and Man City transfer message amid £100m chase
Balogun message
Folarin Balogun has penned a heartfelt message on social media following the United States' 2-0 win over Canada in the CONCAF Nations League final. The Arsenal striker played a major role in helping his country get their hands on some silverware, finding the net after half an hour into the first-half.
He said: "An unreal end to the season for me! I’ve had a few days to reflect and My first goal for the USMNT coming in a final still feels like a dream to me! Winning means the world an to pick up my first professional trophy in front of you guys is unforgettable. See you soon!"
Balogun faces a somewhat uncertain future at the Emirates Stadium this summer, with Mikel Arteta treated to a wealth of attacking talent . The 21-year-old will face tough competition from the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah for a place in the starting lineup next season, but it remains to be seen where his futures lies for now.
