“A done deal for some time” – Arsenal ahead in race for star, preferences made clear

Bayern Munich’s interest in West Ham United star Declan Rice is “too little, too late” as a move to Arsenal is already a “done deal”.

That’s according to a source close to West Ham’s David Sullivan, who has spoken to RAN about the midfielder’s future.

They report that despite Bayern having rolled out the red carpet for Rice with visits from Thomas Tuchel and public insistence they’d pay €100m, their efforts are “too little too late”.

That’s because, according to RAN’s information, Rice has already sent a ‘clear message’ to West Ham owner David Sullivan that that he wants to join Arsenal.

“Declan Rice told David Sullivan some time ago that he was only going to Arsenal. This deal has actually been a done deal for some time,” the anonymous source from the ‘close circle’ around Sullivan is quoted as saying.

RAN believe that the fact Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League is a deciding factor as well as Rice being able to stay in London with his eleventh-month old son Jude.

Bayern can continue to hope thanks to two reasons, Tuchel’s visit to speak to Rice and his father personally, with that meeting going on for 90 minutes and the fact he will cost around €100m. “Sullivan won’t let him go if he doesn’t get that price,” the source added.

It is there where the German champions have their ‘opportunity’ as reports in England have suggested Arsenal want a cheaper deal.

They’ve only spent more than €60m once in their history, on Nicolas Pepe’s move from Lille in 2019, which cost a princely €80m and did not prove to be value for money.

That gives Bayern a chance to stump them in terms of cold hard cash, although it seems the West Ham man would still need convincing as he’s apparently set on Arsenal.