Declan Rice has decided where he wants to go this summer, while Manchester City and Arsenal are ‘checking on’ a £40m Crystal Palace star…
RICE DECISION
Declan Rice is set to play his final Premier League game for West Ham on Sunday ahead of the Europa League Conference final on Wednesday, in which the England international can sign off in style.
Arsenal have been leading the charge for Rice in the last few months, with reports suggesting feelings of admiration are mutual.
But Manchester United have entered the fray in recent days, as Erik ten Hag wants Rice along with international teammates Harry Kane and Mason Mount at Old Trafford in an ambitious, and possibly overly optimistic, £270m transfer splurge.
According to Mirror, Rice ‘is ready to make it clear he favours a move to Arsenal this summer’, presumably by signing for Arsenal this summer.
Mikel Arteta has a ‘clear plan’ for Rice at the Emirates, and with Granit Xhaka expected to leave for Bayer Leverkusen, the 24-year-old looks set to slot into the position vacated by the Switzerland itnernational.
Despite Rice’s apparent desire to join Arsenal, the Gunners have a long way to go to convince West Ham into selling to them, with reports suggesting their first bid will be well short of the £100m valuation.
CHECK ON OLISE
Arsenal are also on the lookout for backup options on the wing, to lessen the load on both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli next season.
They’ve again been linked with Crystal Palace star Michael Olise, who’s registered ten assists and two goals in an impressive season at Selhurst Park.
A report last month claimed Arsenal director Edu has been keeping an eye on Olise with Mikel Arteta is also a big fan of the 21-year-old.
That provoked Palace manager Roy Hodgson to admit chairman and co-owner Steve Parish should be worried about Olise’s future at the club.
It was at that point claimed the Gunners would be willing to stump up £40m for the 21-year-old, who moved to Palace from Reading for £9m in the summer of 2021.
And now transfer expert Ekrem Konur claims Arsenal ‘are planning to check on the situation’ of Olise ahead of a potential push to sign him this summer, though Manchester City will do the same.
KIMMICH SWAP
Another position Arsenal are looking to strengthen is right-back, and recent reports have claimed they’re keen on Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo, who is very much in Pep Guardiola’s bad books and is sure to leave the Etihad this summer.
Reports have claimed Bayern would not take up the option to make his loan move permanent, but that was likely due to the £60m price tag, and City have offered the Bundesliga side a different option.
With Ilkay Gundogan potentially on his way out of City this summer at the end of his contract, Pep is keen on a new central midfielder and Joshua Kimmich has emerged as a candidate.
90min claim City will offer Bayern a swap deal – Cancelo for Kimmich.
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- Trasnfer Gossip: Everton ‘leapfrog’ West Ham, Spurs for Man Utd man; Chelsea, City ‘ramp up’ PL transfer effort
- Arsenal Leading the Race to Sign Crystal Palace Winger Michael Olise
- Arsenal Prepares Third Bid for Declan Rice to Rival Manchester City’s Offer
