Let bidding commence. Shall we start at, let’s say, £80m?
The race for Declan Rice is on this summer, with Arsenal confident of beating Chelsea and Manchester United to the West Ham midfielder’s signature, according to The Times.
And given that a transfer “hijacking” has just played out in public, with Chelsea signing Mykhailo Mudryk amid Arsenal’s interest in the Ukraine winger, this one could prove fascinating.
Rice has long been linked with a move away from West Ham, but unsurprisingly their board have been reluctant to sell one of their most prized assets, while last year manager David Moyes said £100m would have been a “cheap” price for the England international – with a £150m fee also mooted.
Now there is an expiring contract to throw into the mix, with Rice’s current deal at West Ham running until 2024. As a result, the Hammers are resigned to losing him this summer, the Evening Standard reports, but will still hold out for more than £100m amid Arsenal’s hopes that £80m does the trick.
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Rice could therefore break records this summer, with Chelsea and Manchester United yet to break the nine-figure barrier for a player either.
So, perhaps the more pertinent question, who needs him the most? And what if a certain struggling Big Six side enter the fray as well? Here’s the case for and against each club signing Rice.
Arsenal
Champions League football is all but guaranteed. Okay, there are 20 games remaining for Arsenal, but with a game in hand and a 14-point advantage over Tottenham in fifth, the Gunners are well placed not only to win a first Premier League title since 2004 but also secure a return to Europe’s top table after six seasons away.
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That should prove enticing for Rice, especially with Chelsea facing an uphill battle simply to qualify for the Europa League or Conference League, although he would face stiff competition in midfield.
The Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka pivot is proving a well-oiled machine at Arsenal and central to their title charge, so breaking up this duo would be no easy feat for Rice.
Nevertheless, with Partey turning 30 in June and Xhaka 31 in September, adding 24-year-old Rice would give manager Mikel Arteta a welcome dilemma, particularly if injuries come into play. And, should Arsenal go on to win the league, what we have learned in recent years is that no club should stand still and revel in the silverware. Transfers and fresh blood are necessary to go again.
Chelsea
Chelsea need Rice more than their rivals. N’Golo Kante, 31, has missed the majority of the season through injury, while the Frenchman’s contract expires at the end of the season.
Rice, who played for Chelsea at youth level before joining West Ham’s academy, would therefore be a ready-made successor should Kante leave, and the England international would be a sure-fire starter for Graham Potter – or whoever may be in charge next season.
The prospect of near-guaranteed gametime is the bonus for Rice moving to Chelsea, but the (expected) lack of Champions League football could put him off.
The Blues’ best hope of Champions League football next season would seemingly be to win the competition this year, and that could be where their hopes of signing Rice lie. Time for another European run.
Man Utd
Having signed one of the world’s best defensive midfielders in the summer, a player living and breathing every moment at Old Trafford and going viral for his celebrations with the fans, a player with five Champions League medals and bags of experience, a player who is viewed as integral to Erik ten Hag’s (so far) impressive first season at the helm, the question would be whether Rice complements or clashes with Casemiro.
Currently, there is room for just one defensive midfielder in Ten Hag’s starting XI, and the United boss has not looked back since replacing Scott McTominay with Casemiro in October.
Rice would therefore give Ten Hag an enticing double-pivot option should he look to alter his formation, and with McTominay a reported target for Newcastle, Manchester United may well go all out for this replacement which is arguably an upgrade as well.
And with Casemiro turning 31 next month, a few seasons working with the Brazilian could transform Rice into a world-beater himself. This is a move that makes sense, although Rice may have to settle for more time on the bench than he would at Chelsea.
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Liverpool’s interest in Jude Bellingham has been widely reported, but amid their Big Six rivals looking at Rice, they are yet to be linked with the other half of England’s central midfield.
Whether that changes remains to be seen, although Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been adamant this month that the club cannot simply throw money at players to solve their current problems.
Nevertheless, with a potential takeover in the offing, the fabled transfer “treasure chest” could grow in size at Liverpool, while prospective new owners may look to make a marquee signing or two. That does however mean a lot has to play out between now and the end of the season, so if the race for Rice goes beyond £100m, Liverpool fans will not be holding their breath over the prospect of their team weighing in.
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