Mikel Arteta has been urged to convince Declan Rice to join Arsenal after Manchester City entered the race to sign the England midfielder.
For months, West Ham's captain has been widely touted for a move to the Emirates, with owner David Sullivan admitting that the Europa Conference League final was the last game for Rice in claret and blue. But getting the deal over the line has proved problematic, with the Gunners having had two bids rejected.
And now a serious rival has emerged in the race to sign the 24-year-old. Manchester City have come into the picture following the departure of Ilkay Gundogan, and are reportedly prepared to meet the £100 million asking price that Arsenal have thus far fallen short of.
The temptation to head the Etihad will inevitably be huge, with the club having just completed an historic treble by winning the Champions League. The club also undoubtedly have the financial power to better any wage deal offered by their Premier League rivals.
And now talkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist has outlined the sales pitch Arsenal need to pledge to Rice: "If Arteta's talking to him as well, and talking to his people, then he'll be trying to sell it as 'I need two or three players to complete a jigsaw, you'll be one of them'," the Scot said on Friday. "He is happy in the area of London, his family is there. So what a decision - but it's a great decision to have."
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However, McCoist also admitted that if winning trophies was the priority for Rice, then City would be the more obvious move. And he feared that West Ham will also favour their skipper heading out of London if it suits them financially.
"If Manchester City offer more money, then West Ham will clearly point him in the direction of Manchester that goes without saying," said McCoist. "He'd be awesome there. I mean, if you're talking about a middle three of Rice, Rodri, and De Bruyne - that trio in the middle of the park would be unbelievable."
Were Rice to move to either side for a deal north of £100 million, it would shatter the transfer record for a British player. That honour currently belongs to another City star in Jack Grealish, following his move from Aston Villa in the summer of 2021.
Manchester United have also been linked with a move, but speculation has since cooled amid the prolonged takeover saga at Old Trafford that still shows no immediate sign of being resolved. Erik ten Hag's priority is also a huge money deal for a striker, with Tottenham's Harry Kane his primary target.
