Manchester City are preparing a bid for West Ham United captain and Arsenal target Declan Rice, football.london understands.
The Gunners have made rice their priority target for the summer transfer window and they have so far seen two offers for Rice rejected by the Hammers. The north London outfit had a first bid of £80million plus at least £10million in add-ons rejected last week for the England international before another offer, which remained under West Ham's £100million asking price, was turned down on Tuesday.
Now, Premier League champions City have entered the race to sign the England international, with Pep Guardiola's side preparing to make an offer. It remains to be seen what the player's preference is but he has previously spoken about his love for living in London.
Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap Extra last year, the talented midfielder said: "'I'm here [Kingston] all the time. I've always wanted to stay close to this place.
"I feel like I don't want to lose my roots." Earlier this month, Rice helped West Ham clinch European glory in the form of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The Hammers defeated Fiorentina 2-1 in the final, after which club chairman David Sullivan admitted that the 24-year-old had likely played his last game in their famous claret and blue strip. Speaking on talkSPORT, 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."
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