Former Premier League owner Simon Jordan is convinced Arsenal are still more likely to sign West Ham United captain Declan Rice than Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Anyone pointing out that fellow England internationals Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho enjoyed spells of sustained success in Germany are, to some extent, missing the point.
Bellingham and Sancho were teenagers when joining Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham and Manchester City respectively.
Declan Rice, however, would be putting pen to paper with Bayern Munich at the peak of his powers, having only turned 24 in January.
And with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United offering Rice the chance to fight for silverware in England, Jordan would be ‘gobsmacked’ to see the West Ham skipper swap Europe’s most high-profile domestic league for one more renowned for launching budding youngsters – such as Bellingham, Sancho and Erling Haaland – than luring established stars.
Arsenal face Bayern Munich battle for West Ham’s Declan Rice
“Jude Bellingham was 17 (when Dortmund signed him),” former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan tells talkSPORT. “Declan Rice is not going to Bayern Munich. He’s going to go to one of the big clubs in England to try and win the Premier League with an English club,”
“He’s got no reason to go to Bayern Munich. He’s not going to go.
“I will be absolutely gobsmacked if an established England player, who is perceived to be one of the best in his position, will be out of the Premier League playing in Germany.
“There is not the same lure to go to Bayern Munich.”
According to The Mirror, Bayern are preparing to test West Ham’s resolve with a club-record £95 million bid. David Moyes’ UEFA Conference League finalists are holding out for a nine-figure sum, however, while Rice is understood to prefer a move that would allow him to stay in London.
‘Arsenal are on the cusp of great things’
“I think it would be a great move for him. Arsenal are on the cusp of great things – I hope,” Gunners legend Alan Smith tells Sky Sports.
“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. 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.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
