Manchester City have submitted a bid for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.
David Ornstein of the Athletic has reported that City have launched their opening bid for the England international.
🚨 EXCL: West Ham have tonight received formal offer from Manchester City to sign Declan Rice. #MCFC proposing deal worth £80m + £10m add-ons after 2nd Arsenal bid of £75m + £15m rejected last week. #AFC pursuit of main target ongoing @TheAthleticFC #WHUFC https://t.co/61GrpGrlrq
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 26, 2023
Fabrizio Romano also reported overnight that Manchester City and Arsenal were intending to launch bids for Rice this week. He also reports Arsenal are set to launch a fresh bid for Rice.
Understand Arsenal will respond to Man City official proposal submitted tonight for Declan Rice. 🚨⚪️🔴 #AFC
Arsenal will bid again after 2 proposals rejected in the recent weeks. They are not giving up at this stage.
…both City and Arsenal had plans to bid for Rice this week. pic.twitter.com/gL4CLSoRb0
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 26, 2023
The Daily Mail pair of Sami Mokbel and Simon Jordan also report of City’s bid for Declan Rice.
🚨 Arsenal to formalise 3rd offer for Declan Rice after Man City finally bid for West Ham’s captain. Remains to be seen if #MCFC £90m offer is accepted – but, pertinently, it doesn’t meet player’s £100m valuation. Story with Simon Jones. #AFC #WHUFC https://t.co/XaUAeE532H
— Sami Mokbel (@SamiMokbel81_DM) June 26, 2023
They also add that West Ham are likely to reject City’s opening offer for the England international.
It was reported last week that Declan Rice preferred to stay in London with a move to Arsenal looking to be his preferred option.
With news now of Manchester City’s bid for Rice, it would indicate that there has been a sign given to Manchester City that Rice is indeed willing to move to the Etihad.
City were linked with a move for Rice after news of Ilkay Gundogan’s departure to Barcelona broke.
Gundogan completed his move to the Spanish champions on Monday.
Manchester City are looking to strengthen their midfield in light of Gundogan’s departure.
Mateo Kovacic is reported to be heading to the Etihad. That deal is expected to be announced any day as City strengthen their squad.
