Arsenal’s first proposal for England player Declan Rice has been rejected by West Ham.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, has made Rice one of his top transfer priorities, with reports indicating a deal is close.
However, it is understood that the Hammers were unimpressed with the initial offer for the 24-year-old due to a number of stipulations.
West Ham sources expect more communication from Arsenal, but they also expect a bid from Manchester City.
The city has refused to comment on any potential interest in Rice.
The futures of City captain Ilkay Gundogan and teammate Bernardo Silva are unknown, which could push manager Pep Guardiola to enter the transfer market.
West Ham chairman David Sullivan has stated that he is “99%” certain that Rice, who captained the Hammers to a Europa League success earlier this month, will depart the club this summer.
Rice has played 245 games for West Ham and scored 15 goals since making his debut in the 2016-17 season after coming through the academy.
He has been capped 41 times for England, appearing in all five of their World Cup matches last year.
Rice’s contract expires in one year, but the Hammers have the option to extend it until the summer of 2025, putting them in a strong position to negotiate a large transfer fee.
