Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger has been proven right after predicting Declan Rice would be a future star after watching him play at as a 16-year-old. The Gunners are prioritising a move for the England international this summer - eight years after Wenger saw Rice play for West Ham Under-18s.
Arsenal are preparing an initial offer worth in the region of £100million - including achievable add-ons - as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his midfield options. football.london understands that Granit Xhaka is expected to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer with the Switzerland international lining up a £13million move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Xhaka's exit is likely to be confirmed once the Gunners sign a replacement, with talks underway with West Ham regarding a deal to sign Rice. Hammers' chairman David Sullivan revealed that the 24-year-old will be sold this summer just 12 hours after Rice lifted the Europa Conference League trophy in Prague.
When asked about his future after writing his name into West Ham history, Rice was coy over his future in discussion with BT Sport, saying: "Look at the moment, there's obviously a lot of speculation going on about my future. Obviously there is interest from other clubs, that's out there, but ultimately I still have two-years left at West Ham.
"I love this club, I love playing for this club, there hasn't been nothing yet, so look my focus is playing for West Ham, enjoying tonight and seeing what happens. I'm captain of this club, I absolutely love it to pieces, I cannot speak highly enough of this place and let's just see what happens."
Rice began his youth career as part of Chelsea's academy, but was released at the age of 14, before joining West Ham and signing his first professional contract in 2015. After graduating to the Hammers' senior squad in the 2016/17 campaign, he was primarily played as a midfielder but also featured as a central defender on occasion.
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In 2019, the Evening Standard released a report detailing the first time the legendary Gunners manager watched Rice play as a 16-year-old. The report read: "It was early one afternoon in September 2015 and Arsene Wenger had been standing by one of the pitches at Arsenal's training ground watching his Under-18s play West Ham when, after 20 minutes, he decided he had seen enough.
"As he walked away, he turned to a member of his coaching staff and pointed out that the best player on the pitch was Declan Rice - a 16-year-old centre-back. Wenger was left in no doubt that he was a real talent."
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