Declan Rice’s next potential suitor is a topic that refuses to go away with the West Ham captain almost certainly heading elsewhere in the summer, and a host of the Premier League‘s elite look set to engage in a bidding war come the end of the season.
Having begun his youth career at Chelsea‘s famed Cobham academy, Rice has long been linked with a return to West London and an eventual move to the Blues looked to be a foregone conclusion in recent years.
With Jorginho heading to Arsenal in January, and injury-stricken N’Golo Kante looking increasingly likely to exit the club with his contract expiring this year, Todd Boehly will more than likely dig out his chequebook once again to bring in one of the club’s most desired midfielder transfer prospects.
However with the Blues, who are 5/1 to sign Rice in the summer, struggling all the way down in 10th place and 11 points adrift of fourth place, his self-professed desire for Champions League football may be fulfilled elsewhere unless Graham Potter can start to gel with his band of big-money acquisitions.
League leaders Arsenal have emerged as serious contenders in the race for Rice’s signature, and according to reports, the Gunners are willing to make the 24-year-old their priority heading into the summer window. Having been pegged back by a stubborn Brighton board in their pursuit Moises Caicedo, they opted to bring in Jorginho for some much needed depth in a last-minute deal last month.
🚨 Sources with an understanding of Declan Rice’s situation have revealed Arsenal are in sustained contacts with the player’s representatives ahead of a summer deal & are willing to hand him a long-term contract worth in excess of £200k-a-week. [@SportsPeteO] #afc pic.twitter.com/tKXqsE4h2u
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) February 20, 2023
However, the club remain intent on bolstering their midfield with a view to the future, particularly with Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka entering their 30’s. Rice fits the mould of a defensively stout yet progressive ball-playing holding midfielder, and possesses the winning mentality that appears to be spreading through the current Arsenal team this term.
Elsewhere, both Manchester City and Manchester United are priced at 8/1 – although neither team are in desperate need of a holding midfield player, the market opportunity to bring in a player of Rice’s calibre and potential for development in the future may force their hand.
Declan Rice Transfer Odds
- Arsenal – 2/1
- Chelsea – 5/1
- Manchester City – 8/1
- Manchester United – 8/1
- Newcastle – 10/1
- Liverpool – 10/1
- Tottenham – 33/1
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