Arsenal are said to be growing more confident in securing the £100m signing of West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
According to Football Insider, 24-year-old Rice is expected to leave the Hammers at the end of the season. Manchester City and Chelsea are also interested in the England international but it is the Gunners that are leading the race.
Rice is understood to want to stay in her home city of London. weapon not only in London but can also provide the midfielder with a UEFA Champions League kick. This is a contest that the player has made it clear he looks forward to participating in throughout his career. He said during the 2022 FIFA World Cup (via Guardian):
“100% I want to play in the Champions League. For the last two or three years I’ve said that.”
Rice have been in fine form this season, scoring four goals and providing plenty of assists in 43 games in all competitions. He was appointed West Ham captain after Mark Noble retired last summer. The former Chelsea academy graduate was also a standout player for England at the FIFA World Cup.
Arsenal seem very confident about securing Rice’s signature, which will be a sign of how far they have come Mikel Arteta. A contract of such stature and financial power kept the people of north London in hiding for a while.
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger would love to coach Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he would love to coach Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian scored a brace to help Cityzens win 4-1 over the Gunners on April 26.
Wenger has coached many top midfielders during his time with the North Londoners including Patrick Vieira, Marc Overmars and Cesc Fabregas. However, he couldn’t help but praise De Bruyne as he told the official Premier League YouTube channel:
“I could say many Arsenal players, but the one ready to enter this Hall of Fame, who has been consistent over the last seven or eight years is De Bruyne.”
Wenger added:
“He has excelled in efficiency, quality and decisiveness in the big games.”
De Bruyne has been in brilliant form this season, scoring nine goals and providing an incredible 27 assists in 42 games. He has helped Man City replace the Gunners at the top of the league with a point and a game in hand.
