30 June 2023 , 05:55
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Declan Rice's move from West Ham to Arsenal continues to be held up by the payment structure of the offer.
The Hammers are resigned to losing their star man with the Gunners seemingly his next club. Manchester City pulled out of the race after they opted against matching the £105m bid lodged by those at the Emirates, £100m of which is guaranteed with a further £5m in add-ons.
Arsenal want to build on their impressive campaign last time out but West Ham are continuing to dig their heels in regarding Rice as they want the lump sum paid in full by early 2025, whereas the north Londoners want to stagger the payments across a five-year period, as per The Sun.
It is not expected to affect any deal but a source has maintained that “the ball is in Arsenal's court”. The Gunners have already shelled out more than £60m to add Kai Havertz from Chelsea whilst a £40m swoop for Ajax's Jurrien Timber is also nearing its completion, which could take their summer spending to over £200m.
Despite the return of Champions League revenue Arsenal still need to manage their books and staggering Rice's fee would've aided in that process, but West Ham are not keen on that as they seek to reinvest Rice's fee into their playing squad.
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The England star underlined his importance in, what looks like, his final Hammers outing as they secured victory in the Europa Conference League final. Rice has previously rejected a new deal at the London Stadium and made no secret of his desire to play in Europe's top competitions.
Declan Rice is set to join Arsenal once a payment package is secured (Getty Images)Arsenal can offer him that and need to prepare to fight on several fronts. Several of their midfield linchpins could move on this summer, leaving them with sizeable holes to fill. Granit Xhaka is expected to return to Germany whilst Thomas Partey could also depart.
Hammers chairman David Sullivan all but confirmed Rice's departure in the aftermath of their European victory as he told talkSPORT: "I think it has to be. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going. You can't ask for a man who has committed more to us this season.
"In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement - or several replacements. It's not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down. It's cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go. You can't keep a player who doesn't want to be there."