Jay Bothroyd says Declan Rice is ‘coming to Arsenal‘ and he can’t see the West Ham United midfielder moving to Manchester because he is a ‘London boy’, as he told The Transfer Show on Sky Sports (18/01/23).
Mikel Arteta has made the England international his top target ahead of the summer transfer window, with Rice expected to leave as he searches for Champions League football.
If he were to make the short trip from the London Stadium to the Emirates, then he might not only join a team in the Champions League, but a team that could be champions of England.
The Gunners are flying high at the top of the table, with only one defeat to their name this season and eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City.
One worry Arsenal fans have is Thomas Partey getting injured. Could they get someone in to do the business for the short-term, in other words, this month?
Even if they don’t, come next season, the possibility of Rice and Partey bossing the midfield could be something for the north London side, as former Arsenal man Bothroyd is excited at that possibly happening.
“Declan Rice? He’s coming Arsenal, isn’t he?!,” said Bothroyd. “He’s coming to Arsenal.
“I don’t think so (Rice ending up in Manchester). He’s a London boy. I think he wants to be in London. I think it will be Arsenal or Chelsea, for me.”
RICE READY FOR THE STEP UP
The 24-year-old helped guide West Ham to a number of European finishes in recent seasons, but he now faces the task of trying to stop the Hammers from dropping to the Championship.
Whatever happens, many feel it’s now the time for Rice to taste Champions League football and play against the elite.
It could be argued that, on the international stage for England, he has proven that when he pits his talents against some of the best in the world, then he is capable of playing against the elite on the domestic scene.
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