West Ham’s star midfielder, Declan Rice, is on the verge of joining Arsenal as the Gunners await the final approval from their legal team.
According to Sky Sports, the Hammers have already prepared the contracts, and once the lawyers give their green light, Rice’s transfer to North London will be finalized.
Arsenal is eager to secure Rice’s signature before their upcoming pre-season tour in the United States, with hopes of completing the deal swiftly.
The transfer will come at a hefty cost, amounting to a club-record fee of £105 million. The payment structure consists of an initial sum of £100 million, supplemented by an additional £5 million in add-ons. This figure will surpass Arsenal’s previous record acquisition, which was Nicolas Pepe from Lille for £72 million in 2019.
While Rice’s signing will fall just short of the British transfer record, set by Chelsea in January when they paid £106.8 million to Benfica for Enzo Fernandez, it still represents a significant investment for Arsenal.
The Gunners are also poised to announce the signing of Jurrien Timber, a talented defender from Ajax. The club is optimistic about including Timber in their squad for an upcoming friendly against FC Nurnberg, scheduled for Thursday.
READ MORE: Arsenal midfielder in talks with European giants.
Following a successful medical examination, Timber’s £38 million transfer is in its final stages, with paperwork being processed to secure a long-term contract. Arsenal will make an initial payment of £34 million for the versatile right-back, while the remainder of the fee will be based on performance-related add-ons.
Timber’s arrival will provide Arsenal with reinforcement in defense, as he can operate both as a right-back and a center-back. The young Dutchman had previously attracted interest from Manchester United.
The addition of Declan Rice to Arsenal promises to bring a new dimension to the team. During Arsenal’s clash with West Ham at the London Stadium in April, Rice demonstrated his abilities and showcased the qualities that make him a desirable asset for the Gunners.
In that match, Arsenal had established a comfortable two-goal lead, positioning themselves for a crucial victory that would have extended their lead over Manchester City. However, it was Rice’s intervention just after the half-hour mark that changed the tide of the game. He quickly anticipated a pass from Kieran Tierney to Thomas Partey, closing down the Ghanaian midfielder, dispossessing him, and then initiating a swift attacking move that led to Lucas Paqueta’s goal.
With Rice’s imminent arrival at Arsenal, manager Mikel Arteta and the club’s supporters will be hopeful that his talents and footballing intelligence will bolster the team’s midfield, providing the necessary defensive solidity and creativity to achieve their ambitions in the upcoming season.
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