Arsenal have reportedly moved a step closer to clinching the signing of Declan Rice.
West Ham United chairman David Sullivan confirmed on Thursday that his club had given Rice his blessing to leave after clinching Europa Conference League success. Asked on talkSPORT if Rice has played his final game for West Ham, Sullivan said: “I think it has to be. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.
“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.
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“It’s cost him £10m 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.”
And now according to The Telegraph, negotiations over a £92m move to Arsenal are advancing as Rice is the club's priority target for the summer window. The same report also claims that the Hammers want to spend the Rice windfall on Harvey Barnes, James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur are battling with Newcastle United, according to the Guardian, to sign James Maddison after Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League. The report claims that negotiations are due to take place soon for the 26-year-old and Leicester accept that Maddison can leave for the right offer.
A report by 90min.com back in April claimed that Liverpool and Spurs had informed Maddison's representatives that they were interested in signing the midfielder this summer. Maddison contributed 10 goals and nine assists in the top-flight this season.
Tottenham, along with West Ham, have also been offered the chance to explore a deal to sign Manchester United captain Harry Maguire. That’s according to a report by ESPN, who claim that Man United boss Erik ten Hag is open to letting the defender leave.
Maguire, who is under contract at United until 2025 with an option to extend by a further year, has also been linked with a move to Everton in recent days. The England international currently finds himself way down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
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