According to Talk Sport, Arsenal are willing to surpass the £100 million paid by Manchester City for Jack Grealish to take Declan Rice to The Emirates this summer.
However, with Manchester City and Manchester United both reportedly interested, Arsenal will have to do better than their opening bids which have been firmly rejected by West Ham.
With Manchester City preparing for life without Ilkay Gundogan, Rice may well fit the bill at the Etihad. After agreeing a deal with Chelsea to sign Mateo Kovacic, there is still room for Rice who is beginning to add a creative and attacking side to his game.
Offers of £80 million and £90 million have already been rejected and it is difficult to know where Arsenal’s ceiling for the player is. Having lost out to City in the Premier League, Arsenal will be very keen to secure Rice’s services and not lose out again.
West Ham have agreed to let Declan Rice go this season if their valuation of £120 million is matched. With City and Arsenal likely to enter a bidding war, the Hammers may well get the full asking price for their captain.
Sky Sports have hinted that they expect two “big” offers to be made for Rice on Thursday. It has been widely reported that Rice would prefer to stay in London.