In the latest transfer news, Arsenal’s bid for Declan Rice, the West Ham captain, has been jeopardized as Manchester United enters the fray. Arsenal, who already had two record bids for the player rejected, now face stiff competition from United.
The Red Devils are reportedly planning a player-plus-cash deal involving Harry Maguire or Scott McTominay to woo West Ham, aiming to outdo Arsenal in securing the services of the 24-year-old midfielder.
With Manchester United potentially having the backing of Qatari billions from Sheikh Jassim, Arsenal’s dream of a high-profile signing this summer may turn into a nightmare.
Manchester City, Chelsea, and United’s interest in Rice puts West Ham in a desirable position, potentially sparking a bidding war. Despite this predicament, Arsenal is determined not to overpay for Rice but is equally hesitant to let him slip away.
The escalating situation requires Arsenal to act swiftly to secure Rice before their wealthier rivals step in. The longer the negotiations for Rice stretch, the more nerve-wracking it becomes for the Gunners.
Parallelly, Arsenal is reportedly eyeing Everton’s midfielder, Amadou Onana, as a potential alternative to Rice.
The 21-year-old Belgium international, also on Chelsea’s radar, has been one of the bright spots for the Toffees in the last season. With a transfer value of £39 million ($49m), Onana is a significantly cheaper and experienced option when compared to Rice and Moises Caicedo.
Given Arsenal’s needs to strengthen other areas of their squad and the potential £160million ($205m) expenditure for Rice and Kai Havertz, it is reasonable to assume they might explore back-up options like Onana.
The Belgian fits the profile of Arsenal’s squad and could be a sensible and more affordable solution for the Gunners.
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