Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala has expressed a disappointment that Declan Rice will not be joining him in Germany next season. The 20-year-old was a part of Chelsea's academy ranks at the same time as Rice before the England international was released by the Blues.
Musiala left Chelsea in 2019 and is now a crucial player at Bayern under former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel. Bayern were among the clubs to register an interest in signing the West Ham captain this summer - but have now pulled out of the race for his signature.
Arsenal had their first bid for Declan Rice rejected out of hand by West Ham. The Gunners made their first formal offer for the England international on Thursday, but it is thought that the Hammers were unhappy with the proposal.
Arsenal were hopeful of paying a base fee of £80million across the course of six years with a potential further £10million in add-ons, football.london understands. It is thought that West Ham would like more of the money up front, and that the Europa Conference League champions viewed the add on clauses as unrealistic.
Arsenal are leading the race to sign Rice but Manchester City and Chelsea continue to monitor the situation and may make a late move to hijack the Gunners' deal this summer. The Hammers are holding out for a fee in the region of £100million - something Bayern are unlikely to have been able to match compared to the finances of each Premier League club.
Musiala was asked about Bayern missing out on signing Rice this summer and his response hinted that the England international has already made a decision on his next club. The Bayern star said: "We would have been happy if he had come to us!"
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West Ham have accepted that they will sell their captain this summer and that David Moyes will need to sign a replacement ahead of next season - but the Scotsman seems to have a clear preference as to where Rice moves to this summer. According to The Sun, Moyes wants Rice to join Chelsea so that the Hammers can sign Conor Gallagher as part of any deal in return.
The report states that Rice has no willingness to rejoin the Blues, who released him as a youth player, as he has his mind made up about joining Mikel Arteta’s project at the Emirates Stadium. The England international is said to prefer to stay in London, but City may also have a player of interest to West Ham if they look to step up their interest in the 24-year-old midfielder, with Kalvin Phillips a previous target of the Hammers.
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