Former Premier League ace Danny Murphy has a ‘hunch’ that West Ham captain Declan Rice will end up at Arsenal rather than the likes of Manchester United or Chelsea, speaking to talkSPORT (18 January, 11.50am).
This time last year, the prospect of Rice swapping the London Stadium for the Emirates would have brought a rueful laugh from even the most optimistic Gunners supporters.
Now, with Arsenal eight points clear at the top and looking all-but certain to secure a seat around the Champions League table, confidence is growing in North London that Rice could be convinced to join forces with fellow England internationals Bukayo Saka, Ben White and Emile Smith-Rowe.
Rice, after all, is making no secret of his burning desire to play Champions League football. Arsenal also have the added advantage of being based in the capital; another factor that might appeal to the Kingston-born 24-year-old.
Champions League-bound, London-based, and already boasting some of England’s best young talent; Arsenal’s confidence does not appear misplaced.
Arsenal want West Ham United captain and England international Declan Rice
“My hunch, now, is Arsenal,” says Murphy, the ex-Liverpool and Tottenham playmaker.
“Because I think, deep down, when you’re young and from a certain area, you might want to stay around your family. Maybe that Arsenal thing has become much more attractive.”
According to The Guardian, Arsenal – just four months away from getting their mitts on English football’s biggest prize for the first time in 19 years – have installed Rice as their number one summer target.
The West Ham talisman would likely command a club-record fee in the region of £80 million. But, while Arsenal eventually lost out to Chelsea for Mykhaylo Mudryk, their willingness to spend a colossal fee on the Ukraine international highlights the depth of Arteta’s pockets.
Murphy, meanwhile, feels that Rice will be confident of securing a starting spot at the Emirates. That is despite the outstanding form of Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.
“(Rice) probably looks at that midfield and thinks; ‘I could get in that team comfortably’,” Murphy adds.
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