More stories

  • in

    Man City ready to hijack Arsenal’s £100m transfer bid for Declan Rice but need big promise from England ace first

    MANCHESTER CITY reportedly want assurances from Declan Rice that he wants to join them.That is before they launch a £100million offer to hijack the West Ham star’s move to Arsenal.
    Declan Rice is valued at £100million by West HamCredit: Getty
    Man City want to sign him but want assurances that he wants the moveCredit: Rex
    It could leave Arsenal sweating over their transfer plansCredit: AP
    According to the Mirror, West Ham are confident they will receive the £100m valuation for their skipper from one club or the other.
    Arsenal have already seen two bids for Rice pushed back, with their latest offer worth £90m including add-ons.
    City are determined to land Rice, 24, after the departure of Ilkay Gundogan.
    However, if Rice has no genuine interest in joining the Etihad outfit, City will withdraw their interest.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    Rice has been gearing up for a move to the Emirates for months and is said to prefer a move there.
    Indeed, Bayern Munich withdrew their interest in the England international after this revelation.
    The report adds Arsenal’s financial department are working hard on how to restructure the deal in order to best appease the Hammers’ demands.
    After their stunning Treble success and strong player sales, Man City are said to be armed with a £300million war chest.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    With stars such as Ilkay Gundogan departing, along with reports linking Bernardo Silva and Aymeric Laporte away from the club, City will be in need of reinforcements.
    They have already lasered in a deal for Mateo Kovacic.
    Meanwhile, Josko Gvardiol has been identified as Laporte’s successor.
    However, it will take a world record fee for a defender to prise him away from RB Leipzig.
    In Arsenal’s case, a deal for Kai Havertz appears to be close, while they have a clear shot at landing Ajax star Jurrien Timber in part of what could be a record-breaking £200m spree for the Gunners. More

  • in

    European giants ‘enter £25m transfer battle for Coventry star Viktor Gyokeres as four Premier League sides circle’

    EUROPEAN giants Sporting Lisbon have entered the race for Coventry’s £25million-rated striker Viktor Gyokeres.Gyokeres, 25, enjoyed a stellar Championship season, where he scored 21 goals and bagged 12 assists as Coventry made their way to the play-off final.
    Gyokeres was on fire in the Championship this seasonCredit: PA
    Coventry would have been hoping to hold onto Gyokeres if they gained promotion but lost the final on penalties.
    And according to the Daily Mail, they will struggle to hold onto the Swedish striker amid interest from four Premier League clubs.
    West Ham, Fulham, Wolves and Brentford are all pushing to land the forward this summer.
    Despite the forward only having 12 months remaining on his deal, Coventry are determined to get £25m for his signature.
    READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
    If he were to transfer it would not be his first time at a Premier League club.
    Gyokeres joined Brighton from Swedish side Brommapojkarna in 2018 but found game time limited.
    He experienced underwhelming loans at St Pauli and Swansea before joining Coventry permanently after an initial loan spell in 2021.
    Gyokeres has come into his own since making the transfer permanent and now looks set to make the step up back to the Premier League.
    Most read in Football
    Speaking to BBC CWR, Coventry owner Doug King said: “The reality is that it’s early in the window.
    “There is quite a lot of interest in Viktor.
    “He’s clearly made his comments to the press and we’ll see how it unfolds.
    “Sporting Lisbon have been all over the pages, they have been in touch with the club.
    “It isn’t up to Viktor Gyokeres to tell the club he’s going somewhere for 50p. That is not how it works and won’t happen in this situation.
    “When a player moves, they have to agree their terms with a different club and the selling club have to agree a compensation package. If both of those don’t work, then nothing will happen.
    Coventry are not willing to sell Gyokeres below what they perceive to be his value and King said: “I’m feeling quite calm – and Viktor is still contracted to Coventry City.” More

  • in

    Jack Grealish hints at Declan Rice transfer as fans notice his latest ‘like’ on Twitter amid Man City and Arsenal battle

    MANCHESTER CITY star Jack Grealish could’ve just let slip Declan Rice’s next club after he liked a specific tweet. Rice is hot property this summer with a transfer battle ongoing for the West Ham captain between Man City and Arsenal.
    Jack Grealish and Declan Rice play together for the England national team
    But Grealish seemingly hinted at his England teammate’s destination whilst scrolling through his Twitter feed.
    The treble winner liked a video created by a West Ham fan titled ‘Westchester City’.
    The clip draws on similarities between Man City and the East London club with the backing track of ’We Go Together’ from the movie Grease.
    The video was uploaded following suggestions that the Cityzens are nearing a deal for Rice after reports emerged about their incoming offer.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    Grealish liked the uploaded video on Twitter and now West Ham fans seem convinced that he will be joining the treble winners next season.
    One fan wrote: “Grealish has 100% been on the blower to Rice convincing him.”
    Arsenal looked favourites to sign Rice for a while, but have since had two bids rejected by The Hammers.
    The latest bid, which totalled £90million, wasn’t seen as enough to pry the 24-year-old out of West Ham’s grip.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

    It is reported that any deal would likely need to be in excess of £100million to convince the club to sell their captain.
    Manchester City are rumoured to be expected to launch their first bid imminently as they look to replace the departing Ilkay Gundogan who looks all but confirmed as a Barcelona player. More

  • in

    Man Utd could sell ANOTHER starlet in double swap deal for Declan Rice as they consider entering transfer race

    MANCHESTER UNITED could part ways with ANOTHER prodigy in an effort to sign Declan Rice.With Rice being the subject of two bids from Arsenal and expected to be the subject of one from Manchester City, United are behind in the race to land the West Ham star.
    Man Utd are willing to offer two players to get Declan RiceCredit: Getty
    Anthony Elanga could be set to leave as part of a cash-plus-player dealCredit: Getty
    However, Erik ten Hag may look to change these odds by offering cash and TWO players in a deal.
    According to the Daily Mail, United have enquired for Rice in recent days.
    This has come with a view to offer West Ham £40million plus Harry Maguire and Anthony Elanga.
    Elanga, 21, managed just 702 minutes of action under Erik ten Hag last season, frequently finding himself coming off of the bench.
    READ MORE ON MAN UTD
    The winger was a particular favourite of Ralf Rangnick, who revealed he thought Elanga was “really good” after watching YouTube videos of him.
    Rangnick’s managerial skills may have not been up to scratch during his time as the club’s interim manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking, but his talent ID remains highly revered.
    Elanga’s departure from Old Trafford would come after Zidane Iqbal confirmed he was leaving earlier today.
    Reports broke on Tuesday of United accepting a bid worth just shy of £1m from FC Utrecht for the 20-year-old.
    Most read in Football
    BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
    And today Iqbal, who made history as the first British South Asian to play for United, penned a heartfelt exit in a letter to fans.
    He said: “Manchester United has been my home since I was 5 years old.
    “I have so many incredible memories of my 15 years associated with his amazing club… There are too many people to thank.
    “The Academy is a special place that makes dreams com true for so many. That was certainly the case for me.
    “I’ll never forget standing on the touchline at the Theatre of Dreams waiting to come on for my debut. That feeling of pride will live with me forever.”
    He concluded: “I’ll always be a United fan and i’ll always love this football club.
    “The time is right to go and take on a new challenge… This is a perfect opportunity and I cannot wait to get started.”
    It comes after a Manchester Evening News report stating Ten Hag is playing a more “active role” in the academy.
    Read More On The Sun
    However, their report adds that only stars matching the Dutchman’s high standards will be given first team opportunities.
    The likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo appear to be two stars who the ex-Ajax boss rates, with both being given time in the first team across last season. More

  • in

    Fulham set eye-watering price for Palhinha transfer with West Ham wanting him to replace Arsenal-bound Declan Rice

    FULHAM have set their price for star man Joao Palhinha amid interest from West Ham.The Hammers are reportedly exploring the idea of signing Palhinha with Declan Rice looking increasingly likely to leave for Arsenal.
    Joao Palhinha had a stunning first season for Fulham and is of interest to West Ham
    West Ham are looking to replace captain Declan Rice who is being chased by Arsenal
    But it won’t be an easy task to sign the Portuguese star with Fulham slapping a massive price tag on their prized midfielder.
    According to the Mail Online, Fulham will demand a whopping £90million.
    It’s suggested that West Ham are not willing to splash that much cash on the Portugal international, but could test Fulham’s resolve with an offer around £50million.
    Palhinha, 27, only signed for The Cottagers last summer, but has impressed since his £20million transfer from Sporting Lisbon.
    READ MORE ON ARSENAL
    He made 40 appearances for Fulham in his debut season, scoring four times and racking up more yellow cards in the Premier League than any other player.
    Palhinha was widely considered one of the top players in the league last season and was vital to Fulham’s success.
    It is reported that Fulham have used West Ham’s £100million valuation of Rice as the benchmark for Palhinha’s price.
    Rice has been the subject of two bids from Arsenal over the past week, but both have been rejected by The Hammers.
    Most read in Football
    ROYAL ASCOT BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET RACING DEALS
    ROYAL ASCOT LIVE – ALL THE LATEST ON EVERY RACE
    The latest offer, which was understood to be £90million package, still fell short of West Ham’s valuation of their star man.
    The Gunners are rumoured to be lining up a third bid for Rice, but could face competition from Manchester City who are also said to be interested in the England star. More

  • in

    Man Utd considering hijacking Arsenal’s transfer move for Declan Rice by offering two players and cash

    MANCHESTER UNITED are considering hijacking Arsenal’s move for Declan Rice by offering TWO players and cash.Arsenal have seemed like the favourites to sign Rice this summer but have so far seen a pair of bids rejected by West Ham United.
    Manchester United are considering a player-plus-cash bid for Declan RiceCredit: Rex
    The Gunners’ failure to meet West Ham’s £100million valuation is set to open the door for other clubs, including United.
    And, according to The Telegraph, United are eyeing up a move.
    But they won’t pay either, instead offering a player-plus-cash deal.
    Such a move would reportedly involve either Harry Maguire or Scott McTominay, who are both up for sale at Old Trafford.
    READ MORE ON RICE
    However, Maguire’s wages are believed to be a potential issue, whilst it is unclear whether McTominay wants to join the Hammers.
    United’s interest in a potential swap deal comes after Arsenal saw their second bid for Rice rejected on Tuesday.
    Mikel Arteta’s side had lodged another offer as they chase Rice’s signature, but it again fell short of West Ham’s sky-high valuation.
    The bid is said to have been worth a total of £90million, consisting of £75m plus £15m in add-ons spread over five years.
    Most read in Football
    ROYAL ASCOT BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET RACING DEALS
    ROYAL ASCOT LIVE – ALL THE LATEST ON EVERY RACE
    Despite the bid being rejected, Arsenal are still hopeful, with personal terms not an issue, and are expected to return with a third bid.
    Manchester City have also been rumoured as a possible destination for Rice, but the treble winners are yet to make an approach.

    Their cross-city rivals United could bid, though, as Erik ten Hag looks to overhaul his midfield.
    Rice’s pal Mason Mount is also linked with the Red Devils, who are thought to be preparing another bid for the Chelsea star.
    Departures are also expected in the position, with Fred the latest to be linked with a move amid interest from Fulham. More

  • in

    West Ham REJECT Arsenal’s club record second bid for Declan Rice and hold firm on £100m valuation

    WEST HAM have rejected Arsenal’s second bid for Declan Rice.The Gunners tabled an offer worth £90million on Tuesday morning
    West Ham have rejected Arsenal’s second bid for RiceCredit: Getty
    The proposal was worth £75m with £15m in add-ons, but West Ham officials immediately turned it down as they want at least £100m guaranteed for their captain.
    The Gunners had another bid pushed back by the Hammers last week.
    Rice is Arsenal’s priority transfer target this summer.
    The Gunners have been preparing a swoop for the midfielder since January and they are hoping to bring him to North London before the start of pre-season next month.
    Read More on Football
    Personal terms have already been agreed, with Rice understood to be eager to make the switch to the Emirates Stadium.
    Manchester City are also interested, but they are yet to bid due to the midfielder’s desire to join Arsenal.
    The Gunners are also pursuing a deal to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea.
    The Blues have already rejected a bid for the Germany international, who is keen on the prospect of a move to Arsenal, but they could be tempted to let him go for £60m.
    Most read in Football
    BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
    Jurrien Timber is another name on Arteta’s transfer wishlist.
    Arsenal launched a £30m bid for the defender last week, but Ajax want around £50m.
    The Gunners also want to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton, although the Saints want a club-record fee for the young midfielder. More

  • in

    Arsenal ‘very confident of signing Declan Rice AND Kai Havertz’ in huge summer transfer spree

    ARSENAL are “very confident” of completing deals for both Declan Rice and Kai Havertz as part of their summer transfer spree this summer.The club remain confident of completing a deal for Rice, 24, despite having a transfer offer worth £90million rejected by West Ham last week.
    Declan Rice is Arsenal’s highest priority this summerCredit: Getty
    Havertz emerged as a surprise transfer target for Arsenal last weekCredit: Getty
    West Ham owner David Sullivan confirmed that Rice will leave the club this summer following the Hammers’ Europa Conference League victory this month.
    And despite Arsenal having their initial bid rejected for Rice last week, Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenburg reports that the club are in advanced stages to capture the midfielder’s signature.
    It is believed that Arsenal will pay a fee of £100m to secure the England man.
    Plettenburg also reports that Arsenal are in advanced negotiations to sign Chelsea forward Kai Havertz.
    READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
    Fabrizio Romano yesterday reported that Arsenal had agreed personal terms with the German forward, 24.
    Arsenal will match Havertz’s current wages at Chelsea by offering him a £220,000-per-week contract.
    But there remains work to be done between Arsenal and Chelsea regarding a fee for the player – with the Blues reportedly demanding £70m.
    Arsenal have so far only offered £60m but Chelsea are keen to recoup the £70m they paid to sign the forward from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    While Havertz has largely played as a striker for Chelsea, Mikel Arteta sees the German as a player that can bolster his midfield options.
    Arsenal face competition from Bayern Munich to sign Havertz, with the Bavarian club keen to sign the German international as a successor for Robert Lewandowski who left for Barcelona last summer.
    Chelsea hope that Bayern’s interest will see Arsenal offer closer to their asking price for the German.
    It is shaping up to be a busy summer for outgoings at the Bridge, with Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech all close to agreeing moves to the Saudi league.
    Mason Mount and Romelu Lukaku are also expected to leave the club this window. More