Arsenal are ready to break their own club record transfer fee if it means landing Declan Rice's signature this summer.
The West Ham captain is thought to be Mikel Arteta's priority target in the upcoming transfer window, but securing the services of one of England's most talented midfielders is easier said than done. The Hammers have had a far from stellar season, with Rice one of the few shining lights of their campaign.
Arteta is keen on strengthening Arsenal's midfield amid reports that Granit Xhaka's time in north London could be nearing its end as interest from Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen continues to linger. Rice has been identified as the ideal replacement by those at the top of the Gunners hierarchy.
According to MailSport, Arteta is so keen on seeing Rice don the red and white of Arsenal he is prepared to fork out £90million on the England international.
That would be the most the Gunners have ever spent on a single player in their illustrious 137-year history by some distance. The touted figure is actually £18m more than their current record fee, which was spent on Nicolas Pepe.
Despite the eye-watering amount offered to West Ham, it is widely believed that it is still not enough in the eyes of David Moyes's side. The Hammers boss has previously explained that if Rice were to leave East London, it would be for a figure that would 'blow the British transfer record out the water'.
Not everyone is so sold on the idea of spending huge money on Rice.
HAVE YOUR SAY! How much is Declan Rice worth? Comment below
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has revealed how much he thinks the midfielder is worth and it is safe to say his valuation falls short of West Ham's, though he did encourage Rice to leave the London Stadium at a time when it looked like the Red Devils were leading the charge for the West Ham captain.
"Obviously, Declan knows the position, but when I look at world-class holding midfielders, and players of that type, because he doesn't score or assist enough goals, you're putting him into that category of more of a destroyer," Neville explained back in March.
"[Then], you've then got to be someone who I think is highly competent on the ball and linking play, and having that knowledge of the subtleties of getting on the ball from the back four.
"I personally feel, at this moment in time, that Declan needs to go and work under a different set-up, he needs to drive forward in his career, he needs to go and play at a different club. I think there's a lot of growth, and a lot for Declan to do to get up to the levels of Casemiro, Rodri and players at the top of the game in those positions.
"But, for me, I wouldn't be spending £110m or £120m on Rice if I was Manchester United this summer. I would spend £50m-£60m on Declan Rice, but I wouldn't spend the figures being reported."
Arteta seems to disagree, with £90m thought to be the number the Spaniard has settled on in the race for Rice.
