First Arsenal Offer for Declan Rice Rejected by West Ham

The Gunners have offered West Ham United a total of £90m for the transfer of their captain, Declan Rice. The offer includes an £80m upfront fee and £10m in add-ons. However, it has been reported that rival bids are expected from Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United, all of whom are also interested in signing Rice.

According to sources, West Ham have rejected Arsenal's initial offer for Rice, but negotiations are set to continue, with the Hammers anticipating more bids to come in. The club's negotiating position is clear: any deal for Rice will need to be worth at least £100m.

Chairman David Sullivan confirmed that West Ham has reluctantly agreed to let Rice go, and Arsenal has been seen as the frontrunner for his signature. However, the first bid from the Gunners has been swiftly rejected by West Ham, who are surprised by its value.

Rice's contract with West Ham runs until 2025, and a sale this summer could help the club extract his full value. The 24-year-old has previously stated his ambition to play in the Champions League and win trophies, and after leading his team to victory in the Europa Conference League, he has achieved the latter.

Talks between West Ham and Arsenal will continue in the coming days, with Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United all waiting in the wings to make their own offers for Rice. Meanwhile, West Ham is working on identifying potential replacements for Rice, including Kalvin Phillips, Edson Alvarez, and Joao Palhinha.

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