Manchester City will not be matching Arsenal’s enormous £105million bid for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
Arsenal appear to be in the clear for Declan Rice with Manchester City seemingly backing away from the race.
That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims that City have made their decision and will not move for Rice.
Arsenal have offered around £105million for Rice and City have decided that the current terms aren’t worth matching.
City boss Pep Guardiola has called Rice an ‘exceptional’ player but they won’t be joining forces at the Etihad Stadium any time soon.
Romano adds that Arsenal are now working on the structure of their offer, which was £100million plus £5million in add-ons.
West Ham seemingly have some issues about the payment plan, wanting more of the £100million price up front.
Arsenal must now go and thrash out a deal for Rice, but they appear to be in the clear with main rivals City pulling away from the race.
Declan Rice to ask for Arsenal move
This deal appears to be moving closer by the hour and Rice is now keen to make it happen.
The Daily Mail report that Rice is now ready to ask West Ham to accept Arsenal’s latest offer and let him go.
Arsenal allegedly believe that they could have an agreement in place with West Ham by the end of the day.
Rice seemingly believes that the £105million offer is a fair one and that the time has come for West Ham to let him go.
West Ham will continue to negotiate on the structure, with Arsenal aiming to pay the fee over five years.
However, West Ham want the guaranteed part of the deal paid in full by the start of 2025, causing a real stand-off.
Yet with City out of the race and Rice set to ask to go, Arsenal are surely closing in.
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