European champions Man City have joined Arsenal in the race to sign midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham.
On June 26, Man City officially submitted a $101 million transfer fee and $13 million in add-ons to West Ham. According to the Athletic , West Ham had previously rejected Arsenal's offer of $95 million in transfer fees and $19 million in add-ons. Man City hopes to beat Arsenal with a chance to win the title and a higher transfer fee.
Rice lifted the Conference League after West Ham beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the final on June 7. Photo: Reuters
Rice's contract with West Ham expires in June 2024. If he is not sold this summer, West Ham could lose him for free next year. After the Conference League final on June 7, the London club's chairman David Sullivan said Rice wanted to leave and may have played his last game for the club.
Rice is one of the best holding midfielders in Europe today. Experts also highly appreciate the 24-year-old midfielder's ability to read the game, including the skills of prediction, timing and decision making. In West Ham's 4-2-3-1 formation, Rice often plays as a central midfielder with Tomas Soucek. He contributes to creating a defensive shield, receiving the ball and building the play from the back.
Man City will no longer have the services of captain Ilkay Gundogan next season. The 32-year-old star will move to Barca on a free transfer. Man City has reached an agreement to buy Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea, but still wants to buy Rice. In the central midfield position, the European champions also have Rodri, John Stones and Kalvin Phillips. If they buy Rice, Man City can include Phillips in the transfer, or sell him to another club.
Rice came through the West Ham academy and broke into the first team in 2017. He has played 245 times for West Ham over the past six years, winning one Conference League. He has played 43 times for England in five years, scoring three goals. He was named in the squad for the Euro 2021 final and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.
Man City end the 2022-23 season with a treble: Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. The Etihad team won their third consecutive Premier League and their first Champions League. They also became the sixth English team to win the European Cup, after Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.
Last season, Arsenal finished second in the Premier League. The Gunners led the league for much of the season, but finished with 84 points, five points behind Man City. Next season, Man City, Arsenal, Man Utd and Newcastle will represent England in the Champions League. By winning the Conference League, West Ham will qualify for the Europa League.
Thanh Quy (according to Athletic )
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