Declan Rice departs West Ham United

alderz

Sure. But we also all agreed that it was an impossible position when he was asked at the final. What’s he meant to say?

Fortuneseeker

alderz, Just 🤥 means he doesn’t come out of the whole situation very well IMHO.

IronHerb

OldCastleSwift said:

IronHerb said:

I think that's absolute twaddle to tell the truth.

Which bit?

All of it in general but the character assassination in particular.

OldCastleSwift

Character assassination is pushing it.

I'm just wondering how much of what he's been saying is true when the implication is that he's been speaking to Arsenal and Arteta for a while. He's been saying he's only focused on West Ham but I really don't think that if he's been convinced about the Arsenal project that conversations only started after 8th June.

Slacker

Lots of “ I think”,” I believe “, “according to”, “ it would appear” and a fair few “ifs” in there OCS old chap.

The real facts are that nobody has got a scooby.

OldCastleSwift

Slacker said:

Lots of “ I think”,” I believe “, “according to”, “ it would appear” and a fair few “ifs” in there OCS old chap.

The real facts are that nobody has got a scooby.

Well, yeah, but that's the nature of these threads. If we only spoke about facts we'd be talking about absolutely nothing.

Slacker

Yup.

jay_in_cpt

Personally think Rice comes across as a nice guy, however I also think he’s not as
Innocent “ as seen “He and his father agent have been plotting his departure for a while, it’s been NO secret whatsoever …
I really hope Man City come in and make a higher offer than Arsenal do, as for his so called wish to move to Arsenal, just don’t buy it apart from the only London team to show any concrete interest…. perhaps he actually isn’t as concerned about winning trophies than he first carried on about, stating his desire of wanting to play and win at the highest level, with Arsenal he may play at the highest level this season in the champions league , but winning something, that’s another story…..
Let it just be over and we move on from him… IMO

buffybegood

The suggestion is that Rice/his dad has told City he's not interested, so City are unlikely to make an official bid. If that's the case I wouldn't be surprised to see Rice stay for another season as, if what's happened so far is anything to go by, Arsenal just aren't going to come up with an acceptable offer.

I've no issue with the "Gentleman's agreement" to let Rice leave this summer, but that is obviously subject to us receiving an acceptable offer; no-one should expect us to accept a below value offer, especially if Rice himself is ruling out a fair auction by saying he'll only go to Arsenal. In effect Rice is cutting off his nose to spite his face if this is the approach he's taking, as there's no way we should be considering the Arsenal bids as serious, especially as the add-ons are very unlikely to be achievable. If Rice is insistent he'll only go to Arsenal, then the likelihood is he'll have to stay put unless Sullivan has to sell to balance the books after last summer's spending which, unfortunately, is entirely possible.

PrestonHammer

Arsenal have known, along with everybody else, what our price is. Now either they pony up or pony out.

Slacker

NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING!
Nobody knows what’s been said to one party to another party. It’s just journos and “ITKs” speculating!

IronHerb

Does anyone know what the add-ons are, because I don't?
Rice said he wants to win trophies, but did he add next season?

IMO Pep will go in two years time when his contract expires. City will then become vulnerable. Arsenal are trying to put a squad together that will take advantage of that situation and are currently in the best position to do so. They outperformed City for most of the season but blew it. That experience is now with them. Rice will improve them.

Arsenal do need to get their act together re the transfer fee. I don't think we are looking for, or indeed will get £120m. Moyes said that last year but he was just 'playing the game' trying to keep his best asset for as log as possible. £90-£100m is nearer the mark but it seems it's more about the payment structure that is causing the 'issues'. I think a lot of us, not too long ago, were feeling £70m would do so £90m plus would be a good deal.

Ravel49

I think the champions league will hinder any title charge from Arsenal. And expect Liverpool to be the closest to City. All imo of course.

IronHerb

I don't see Liverpool as the main threat tbh. Depends on their window but so poor in midfield and open at the back.

thornburyiron

Any player who doesn’t want to play for us can get lost as far as I’m concerned. I won’t care how well he does or doesn’t do in the future as he won’t care how well we do despite what he might say.

steve

If we don't sell him this window ,Will he be a happy camper for us ,Not sure he will ,Won't down tools but could just be off 10 or 15 % just human nature perhaps

Bazshuayi

As per modern day transfers, Rice and Dad I am sure have already had chats over a period of time with Arsenal. If, as it seems, his preference is for Arsenal, they obviously know or suspect. Hence why would they not try to 'low ball' offer knowing what we are seeking. Perhaps they feel they'll still get him if they continue to hover a lot lower than what we want.

I'll be interested to know what Arsenals third bid entails. If its not enough for Sullivan then we may witness some unhappy player fall out. I still doubt Rice will force a move though and I think after a pretty short time to get over it he will play for us as normal next season if the moves fall through. I guess we'll also see how much of a preference Arsenal is if they dont stump up. It may then be in his interest to run his contract down and play for us for the next couple of seasons.

EXETERHAMMER

Arsenal need to put £100m in and they will get him.
If not, they may well get trumped.

OutcastLondoner

Rice's "we'll see" attitude is painful in the sense that it gives hope. I've felt for a while that there's no point thinking much about whether Rice should go and whether we should do this or that to please him but when after the cup win, it was hard to keep that stance. If you saw him at the parade, he did genuinely look he was torn. Perhaps, in those moments, he was a little swayed by the win.

But also, I'd probably have been more irritated with him if after we won this tournament it became all about him because he said he was moving on. I think the we'll see is as good an answer as he could give when asked that question at that time.

claretandbluesky

I think Rice has done little wrong. He could have been making statements to the press and making things difficult but appears to be being professional. I think he would probably stay another year if we refused offers as he knows each year less on his contract he has more say as the price is less.

I think it's the club that will be keen to sell as they know if he stays another year he could go for as little as 40m next season and I am not sure they want to pay 50-60m for his services this season. It's just a negotiation at present with Arsenal keen to pay as little as possible and believing possibly that they have little competition.

I would say 100m is the price if you can't afford it or are unwilling to just make it clear so we can all move on. Then make it clear that the club will accept an fee of £100m from any club (not Spurs Obviously) and that if they can agree personal terms with the player he can leave. We have honoured our gentlemans agreement in this way.

ScotHammer

PrestonHammer said:

Arsenal have known, along with everybody else, what our price is. Now either they pony up or pony out.

Just reading this thread it seems clear nobody knows what our price is!

DJ Hammer

Looking at the Rice saga from a different perspective, initially his loyalties lay with Ireland until it came to full international caps and then his allegiance switched to England. With his Irish roots in mind I feel that Arsenal with out doubt have the greater pull for him, they have traditionally a great Irish following and I’m just wondering if maybe that is having a bearing on his decision to choose them over Man City. Just a thought.

Expat_Hammer

Ravel49 said:

I think the champions league will hinder any title charge from Arsenal. And expect Liverpool to be the closest to City. All imo of course.

Bazshuayi likes this comment

mike

OldCastleSwift said:

I dunno. He's refused the contracts and I believe he's been talking to Arsenal for a while, via his dad if not directly.

I don't think there was ever any intention of staying, which Sullivan alluded to in his TalkSport interview, and if it's true that his camp have effectively put off City from bidding then it feels, to me at least, like they're trying to force the club's hand to accept Arsenal's bid or risk having an unhappy player in the camp.

Sullivan should stand firm and if we don't get the right offer then Rice stays for another season.
I don't care if he is unhappy.
No player is bigger than the club and that includes Declan Rice.

Ravel49

This suggests to me by talking about Havertz that this is pretty much done
Rice however isn’t close yet

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1672895125448531969

Lukerz

I really hope the club stick to their guns. Another year with Dec is not the end of the world, even though we will probably only get £40m for him next summer. Arsenal need to pay the £100m or they go elsewhere.

OldCastleSwift

Lukerz said:

I really hope the club stick to their guns. Another year with Dec is not the end of the world, even though we will probably only get £40m for him next summer. Arsenal need to pay the £100m or they go elsewhere.

Imagine if he did stay and we won the EL (unlikely, but stick with me).

We'd have two European trophies in two seasons and CL football. Be interesting to see if that was enough for him to sign a new contract.

I don't think he will stay now, and nor do I think we'll win the EL, but it would certainly be interesting.

claretandbluesky

I imagine the only thing that could realistically make him stay is a change of ownership that promised huge investment of the likes of Newcastle as even if we won the EL we would still be a world away from competing with the likes of City etc.

If he felt we could go into the market for players like him then that's what would make a difference.

BubblesNeverDies

DJ Hammer said:

Looking at the Rice saga from a different perspective, initially his loyalties lay with Ireland until it came to full international caps and then his allegiance switched to England. With his Irish roots in mind I feel that Arsenal with out doubt have the greater pull for him, they have traditionally a great Irish following and I’m just wondering if maybe that is having a bearing on his decision to choose them over Man City. Just a thought.

His "Irish roots" amount to his dad's parents coming from Cork.
I can't find any mention of his mother's ancestry, although assuming that if she had Irish ancestry it would be mentioned somewhere.
On that basis he has only 25% Irish ancestry.
He was born and raised in London, so that makes him 100% English as I didn't know we did hyphenated nationalities, unlike the US.

BubblesNeverDies

Regarding the offer from Arsenal, I'd be surprised if he didn't feel a little insulted that they are trying to get him on the cheap, given how much they apparently rate him.
My reaction would be, "is that all you think I'm worth?"