Aston Lukoye
- Rice is set to undergo a medical test on Friday before signing a contract with Arsenal
- Arsenal are also close to signing Ajax defender Jurrien Timber.
Arsenal and West Ham United have agreed a £105m deal for the transfer of Declan Rice, according to 90 Min.
The two clubs have been in negotiations for several weeks over the structure of the deal, with Arsenal eventually agreeing to pay West Ham £100m in guaranteed money plus £5m in performance-related add-ons.
The deal is expected to be completed in the next few days, with Rice set to undergo a medical on Friday before signing a long-term contract with Arsenal.
Rice’s move will break the British transfer record, which is currently held by Jack Grealish, who joined Manchester City for £100m in 2021.
The 24-year-old has been a key player for West Ham in recent years, making over 200 appearances for the club and helping them to reach the Europa League semi-finals last season.
He is also a regular for England, having won 41 caps for his country.
Rice’s arrival at Arsenal will be a major coup for Mikel Arteta, who has been looking to add a top-class defensive midfielder to his squad.
- Related post: Morocco Tops African Teams in FIFA Rankings
The signing of Rice would take Arsenal’s spending to over £200m, as they look to challenge for the Premier League title next season.
West Ham’s attention turns to replacing Rice
West Ham will now turn their attention to replacing Rice, who has been a key player for the club for the past six seasons.
The Hammers have shortlisted three potential replacements for Rice: Joao Palhinha, Edson Alvarez, and Kalvin Phillips.
Palhinha is a defensive midfielder who currently plays for Sporting CP. He is known for his passing ability and his ability to break up play.
Alvarez is a defensive midfielder who currently plays for Ajax. He is known for his athleticism and his ability to win tackles.
Phillips is a defensive midfielder who currently plays for Leeds United. He is known for his passing ability and his ability to read the game.
It is not yet clear which player West Ham will sign to replace Rice, but they will be looking for a player who can replicate his performances in the Premier League.
Arsenal close in on Jurrien Timber
Arsenal are also close to signing Ajax defender Jurrien Timber.
The 20-year-old is a versatile defender who can play at centre-back or right-back. He is known for his pace, his athleticism, and his ability to defend one-on-one.
Timber is a target for several other clubs, including Manchester United and Barcelona. However, it is believed that Arsenal are the frontrunners to sign him.
If Arsenal are able to sign Timber, it would be a major coup for Arteta. The Dutchman is one of the most promising young defenders in Europe, and he would add a lot of quality to Arsenal’s defence.
