Newcastle’s £100m target ‘will be at Arsenal next year’ with exit expected

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Arsenal icon Ray Parlour is now convinced that West Ham United captain Declan Rice will be plying his trade at the Premier League leaders Arsenal under Mikel Arteta in 2023/24. 

On Tuesday night, a wholesome video emerged of Rice storming into the West Ham dressing room and celebrating wildly with the club’s next generation, the U18s hammering Arsenal 5-1 at the Emirates to claim the FA Youth Cup. 

Those of a Gunners perspective may be hoping to see Rice full of the joys of spring in the home dressing room next season. 

Arsenal, according to The Guardian, have identified the England international as their number one summer target; a potential long-term replacement for the ageing Granit Xhaka despite his eye-watering £100 million price-tag. 

TalkSPORT, meanwhile, believe the London-born Rice is excited by the prospect of joining Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and co. That is despite rival interest from an ambitious, deep-pocketed Newcastle United. 

Will Declan Rice leave West Ham United for Arsenal?

Rice has made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football. Arsenal’s title hopes may be hanging in the balance ahead of Wednesday’s crunch clash with Manchester City. But the Gunners will almost-definitely be going head-to-head with Real Madrid and co in Europe’s elite club competition next term.

And Parlour is convinced that Rice will be swapping claret-and-blue for red-and-white. 

“He’ll be at Arsenal next year!” the Invincible tells David Seaman’s Seaman Says podcast. “He’s definitely going to be at Arsenal next year.” 

Rice has four goals and four assists in all competitions this season; a wonderful solo effort against KAA Gent helping fire West Ham into the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League.

“My hunch, now, is Arsenal,” adds former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy.  

“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.”