John Barnes spoke to BonusCodeBets recently where he discussed Arsenal’s move for Declan Rice and what the West Ham captain would bring to Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal have made Declan Rice their number one target this summer with one bid of £80million already having been rejected by West Ham. The Gunners have submitted a second bid in the region of £100million where talks are continuing with the Hammers to find an agreement over the structure of the deal.
Declan Rice is said to want Arsenal over any other Premier League club and Liverpool legend, John Barnes thinks signing the West Ham captain will be worth every penny, if the Gunners can get the deal over the line. The 24-year-old will become Arsenal’s all time record transfer if it is to happen this summer.
READ MORE: West Ham legend predicts where Declan Rice will move to this summer.
All quotes via BonusCodeBets, John Barnes speaks on what Declan Rice will give Arsenal: “Rice will bring strength and solidity to the Arsenal midfield. He has huge defensive qualities that will be useful to Mikel Arteta.”
“He’s not someone that’s going to get forward and get loads of goals but Arsenal at times have been fragile with Thomas Partey and Xhaka.”
“With Partey and Rice, Arsenal can still play their attacking brand of football whilst knowing they have two good defensive midfield players in Rice and Partey to protect the Arsenal centre backs. They will also be safer in transitions.”
Despite the £100milllion fee Arsenal will have to pay to bring Declan Rice in this summer, John Barnes is unfazed by the amount of money and thinks it will be worth it: “The fee is the fee at the end of the day.”
“It doesn’t matter if we think the fee is excessive. If that’s what you’ve got to pay to get Rice and you’re willing to pay it then go and get the player.”
“The fee also doesn’t mean that Rice is three times better than Mac Allister because the fee is three times more either. The days of overpaying for a player should be over. You pay what you have to pay and get on with it.”
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