Former Scottish striker & TalkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist has explained why Declan Rice should join Arsenal over any other team this summer.
it’s no secret Declan Rice is Mikel Arteta’s number one target going into the summer transfer window with Arsenal set to make their first bid for the 24-year-old after the UEFA Europa Conference League final on Wednesday night. The West Ham captain is aiming to help West Ham win their first European trophy for over 40 years.
With Granit Xhaka set to join Bayer Leverkusen, the Gunners are in the market for two central midfielders this summer and Mikel Arteta wants Declan Rice to be the first through the door ahead of next season.
On a couple of occasions this season, Declan Rice has spoken very highly of the Gunners and Mikel Arteta, stating he’s been very impressed with the season Arsenal have had throughout the 2022/23 campaign. West Ham currently value their captain at around £100m.
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However Arsenal are not the only team interested in the England international as Manchester United are also keeping tabs on the player and could look to make a move very soon, but Rice’s preference remains Arsenal.
When discussing Rice’s future on TalkSport, Ally McCoist expressed his opinion about his potential transfer to Arsenal by saying: “I look at Manchester United over the weekend and over the season – and I know they’ve won the League Cup – but they look as though they’re four or five players behind Manchester City. I still think Arsenal are well behind Manchester City, but I think they’ve got the potential to get nearer to them quicker.”
He also said that if he was in Declan Rice’s boots, he would opt for a transfer to Arsenal, rather than to Manchester United.
This season, Rice played all 38 games in the Premier League, scoring four times and assisting once, with an average rating of 7.15, according to SofaScore. His fantastic performances in an underperforming West Ham team put him in the conversation for the Premier League team of the season which explains why Arsenal are so desperate to bring the 24-year-old in this summer.
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