Arsenal\u2019s third official bid for West Ham\u2019s Declan Rice totaling \u00a3105million has finally at least managed to pry open the door for negotiations between the two clubs after the initial two bids had been flatly rejected, Jacob Steinberg reports in The Guardian.<\/p>\n
Manchester City\u2019s \u00a390m offer with the assurance of \u00a380m up front on Monday night (26 June) had previously been the highest received to date but had also found the rejection trove as quickly as Arsenal\u2019s first two bids.<\/p>\n
Clearly the Gunners seem to be resolute and sticking to the guns in pursuing Rice as Mikel Arteta\u2019s side have now pushed theirk offer to nine-figures, improving their bid significantly. Despite this, the race evidently is not yet over yet as the Hammers are reportedly \u201cunhappy\u201d with the payment structure of the Tuesday night proposal.<\/p>\n
According to Steinburg: \u201cHowever the bid is yet to be accepted by West Ham, even though it would set a record for a British player. They are unhappy with the payment structure proposed and, while they have not rejected the offer, talks between the clubs are ongoing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWest Ham have been holding out for \u00a3100m and are expecting City, who have had a \u00a390m bid rejected, to come in with a new offer on Wednesday. One source suggested\u00a0Arsenal\u00a0may need to raise their offer to \u00a3110m to see off City.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sliver of hope for the moment for the Gunners is that the most recent figure offered has at least earned Arteta\u2019s side the benefit of negotiations rather than a flat rejection although that\u2019s still no guarantee of success at the negotiating table as Guardiola\u2019s side is known to be very persuasive when they have their eyes set on their target.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s still the nagging doubt that despite the increase from the Emirates now being sizeable, the Irons aren\u2019t exactly rubbing their hands together with glee the way the bid has been laid out, with the assumption that the deal doesn\u2019t translate into immediate money. West Ham are clearly not predisposed towards having to wait a long time to receive whatever windfall they hope to get from this deal.<\/p>\n
Needless to say, expectations now are that the Gunners latest bid will prompt a speedy response from the Sky Blues in this now developing game of of cat and mouse between the Premier League\u2019s champions and runners-up last season.<\/p>\n
Clearly the battle has shifted off the pitch now.<\/p>\n
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