The structure of Arsenal's offer to West Ham for Declan Rice looks set to prove crucial in determining whether Mikel Arteta can sign his priority target this summer. The Gunners will submit their first formal offer for Rice after West Ham's Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina on June 7 with the full package deal expected to be £92million in total.
Although Arsenal likely want to get the deal over the line in the early stages of the summer window, that opening bid is well below West Ham's valuation. Given his importance to David Moyes' team, the Hammers are demanding £120million, but neither Arsenal or Bayern Munich, who are said to be preparing a £95million bid, have hit the triple-figure mark yet.
Despite a phone call with Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, according to the Daily Mail, Rice will prioritise a move to a fellow Premier League club placing the Gunners back into the lead for his signature. Manchester United also hold a keen interest in the 24-year-old, while Chelsea has been discussed as a potential destination.
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It has previously been stressed by Arteta and Edu that they will not be held ransom to pay ludicrous funds to acquire their priority targets and the same will likely apply for Rice. Negotiations will of course take place and a compromise may be found, but the Gunners need to decide how they will structure their proposals to the Hammers.
Add-ons can form a large portion of their payment for Rice and CBS reporter Ben Jacobs has explained how they will likely prove decisive in Arsenal going over the £100million mark.
Speaking on The Done Deal Show, via The Boot Room, he said: “I think Arsenal are the frontrunners for sure because Rice would like to stay in London. The initial offer that Arsenal are preparing is for below £100m.
“In the end it won’t be as much about the number as the structure. If it’s £100m, Arsenal will lean towards it being made through add-ons and bonuses, but if it’s under £100m, which is the expectation from Arsenal and other suitors, then Arsenal may have to pay more up front.”
With Arsenal's opening offer £8million off reaching triple digits, decisions must be made within Emirates Stadium about how the club want to present the payment structure where it is likely several different proposals are sent to West Ham.
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