The Declan Rice transfer saga has seemingly been ongoing for a very long time, with Arsenal and Manchester City both keen to complete a transfer this summer.
Mikel Arteta's side have seen two offers for Rice rejected by the Hammers before City entered the fray with a bid of their own on Monday evening. football.london understands their offer was £80million guaranteed with an additional £10million in add-ons, one that was also rebuffed by the east London club.
Arsenal's most recent offer was £75million+£15million but football.london understands that the Citizens' proposal was more upfront compared to the Gunners whilst also paying in fewer instalments. Their add-ons were also seen as more achievable, which has been key for West Ham throughout the negotiation process.
Now, Jordan Davies of the Sun has claimed that the Hammers have been clear from the start that they want a British transfer record fee if Rice is to leave the London Stadium this summer. Chelsea's £106million deal to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica back in January is currently the highest any British club has paid for a player, beating out the £100million City spent on Jack Grealish two years ago.
West Ham themselves have made it no secret that Rice will be allowed to depart this summer at the right price. Club chairman David Sullivan told talkSPORT earlier this month, Sullivan said: "I think it has to be [Rice's final game for West Ham]. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.
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"You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season. In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements.
"It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down. It’s cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there."
