Your morning Arsenal digest on Wednesday, June 14.
Declan Rice has perfect shirt number available as Arsenal make £100m transfer breakthrough
Arsenal are closing in on a £100million deal to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice this summer. football.london reported in January that the Gunners are prioritising a move for the 24-year-old as Mikel Arteta targets two new midfield signings ahead of next season.
Rice has played his final game for the Hammers with chairman David Sullivan revealing that the east Londoners will sell their star midfielder. Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have all registered an interest in signing the England international, but Arsenal look set to beat their rivals to his signature.
Now, Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed that West Ham are ready to accept Arsenal's offer. Plettenberg tweeted on Tuesday morning: "Arsenal is preparing a final bid of more than €100m plus bonus payments. West Ham is willing to say YES."
Rice has spent six years at the London Stadium and will end his time with the Hammers by writing himself into club history after lifting the Europa Conference League trophy in his last appearance. The England international rose through the ranks to become a crucial player for West Ham and despite his importance to the team - he did not change his shirt number and has now made the No.41 an iconic jersey at the club.
If he wishes to keep the same number at Arsenal it will likely be given to him with Under-23s talent Maruo Bandeira currently holding the No.41 at the club. Rice has not worn any other shirt number during his senior career at club level and he could continue to wear his iconic No.41 at Arsenal next season.
READ MORE: West Ham stance on Arsenal £100m offer revealed as Declan Rice transfer agreement close
Kylian Mbappe gives Arsenal chance to complete Arsene Wenger's six-year transfer mission
Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe has given Arsenal a chance to complete Arsene Wenger's failed six-year transfer mission. The French striker is one of the best players in the world and has informed PSG that he does not intend to extend his current contract which expires next summer.
Whilst Arsenal may not be in the best position financially to compete against the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United for Mbappe's signature - they are an attractive proposition for any player at present. Mikel Arteta's side came very close to winning their first Premier League title since 2004 last term as they now prepare for a return to the Champions League.
Arsene Wenger was the last manager to win the Premier League with Arsenal but there is a promising future at the Emirates Stadium under Arteta. The legendary manager spoke about his failed attempt to sign Mbappe at Arsenal back in 2017.
“We were on the case last year already and he [Mbappe] was close to joining us. Maybe closer last year than this year because the competition to get him was a bit smaller than it is today," Wenger said during a press conference six years ago.
"I personally believe that for 90 per cent of the players, their career depends completely on where they choose to go. For 10 per cent of the players, they can go where they want and they will make a great career.
"For me he’s in the 10 per cent. He could close his eyes and choose, 'I go here, I go to Real Madrid or to Arsenal or to Man United and will have a great career'.
"He's an exceptional football player. I cannot tell you [how close Arsenal were to signing him], you should ask him the question!"
Read on here.
Kroenke family spotted at Denver Nuggets game as Arsenal prepare Declan Rice £100m transfer bid
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke and his son, Josh, were spotted attending the Denver Nuggets' NBA finals game against Miami Heat on Monday night. Stan is the owner of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which is the holding company of the Gunners and Nuggets.
Denver's NBA finals success over the Heat now means Arsenal are the only Kroenke-owned sports team not to have won a major title in their respective field. The Kroenke's were present to watch the Nuggets win their first NBA championship in franchise history ahead of Arsenal preparing to lodge a £100million offer to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice.
Mikel Arteta will be looking for major investment in the playing squad this summer to close the gap to City and end Arsenal's Premier League title drought. Arsene Wenger was the last manager to lift the iconic trophy back in 2004 - nearly 20 years ago.
READ NEXT:
Arsenal have Kylian Mbappe dilemma amid PSG exit talk and Real Madrid transfer battle
Declan Rice bid, Moises Caicedo latest, Timothy Castagne links, Joao Cancelo transfer
