Arsenal legend Alan Smith believes Chelsea’s Mason Mount and West Ham United’s Declan Rice would be ‘fantastic signings’ but insists the Premier League runners-up will not go overboard in their pursuit of summer additions.
Perennial Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich do not tend to make a habit of breaking the bank. Their fourth-most expensive signing of all-time – Corentin Tolisso – cost only slightly more than West Ham paid for Gianluca Scamacca, after all.
Reports from The Mirror suggesting that Bayern are ready to break their transfer record with a £95 million bid for Declan Rice, then, is testament to just how serious they are about luring the England international to the Allianz Arena.
Despite links with Newcastle and Manchester United, Bayern are rapidly emerging as Arsenal’s biggest obstacle in pursuit of the Champions League-chasing West Ham skipper. Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg claims that Rice has already held talks with Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel.
Smith, however, is still of the belief that Rice will be plying his trade this side of the Channel in 2023/24.
Will Arsenal win the race for West Ham United captain Declan Rice?
“I think maybe that he would prefer to stay in the Premier League for a bit,” Smith tells Sky Sports.
“The Premier League, without being biased, is the best league in the world. It is where most players these days want to be. So, I would imagine he’d want to play for one of the big clubs.
He’s a London lad. A move to Arsenal wouldn’t be too turbulent for him! It would be easy, I think.
“Bayern obviously have money to spend, they can offer him a very nice package. So it would be up to him. Moving abroad isn’t for every player, as we’ve seen. Some really embrace it. Others aren’t so comfortable.
“I would hazard a guess that he would prefer to stay in this country.”
West Ham are reluctant to accept a penny less than £100 million for Rice, per the Daily Mail. Such a fee would not only make him Arsenal’s record signing, but also the joint-most expensive acquisition in British football history alongside Manchester City’s former Aston Villa talisman Jack Grealish.
Arsenal showed during the Mykhaylo Mudryk saga that they are not prepared to spend beyond their means, but Smith is still confident that a deal can be agreed. The former Gunners striker, meanwhile, wonders if Rice could be reunited with his good friend Mason Mount at the Emirates too.
Mount’s Chelsea contract expires in 2024.
“West Ham might want £120 million (for Rice). As to whether they are going to get it or not… I’m not so sure about that,” Smith adds.
“He’s a fine player, of course he is. A great character. He’s young, got his best years ahead of him. He’s not a matchwinner, he’s just a very good player that would add to your starting XI.
“I can’t really, I have to say. Not £120 million. We saw the negotiations tactics with Mudryk, and they would only go up to a certain price and after that they were out. They left it to Chelsea.
“Having spoken to people within the recruitment side, people on the board at Arsenal, they’ve got a seal and they won’t be held to ransom. They will have a figure in mind and they won’t go any higher.
“I think it would be a great move for him. Arsenal are on the cusp of great things – I hope. Who knows? Maybe Mason Mount would come across from Chelsea as well, two buddies. That would be two fantastic signings.
“I think Arsenal might just be in the box seat, and that would be a great coup.”
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