Man City respond to Arsenal's record bid for Declan Rice

On Tuesday, Arsenal made a third offer for the West Ham United skipper after Manchester City’s failed bid.

Manchester City have pulled out of the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Arsenal submitted a third bid worth £105 million for Rice on Tuesday. The offer involves an initial £100 million, plus £5 million in add-ons. West Ham are yet to accept it, because of concerns over the payment structure. But if they do, Rice would become the most expensive British signing in history.

The current British transfer record has stood since August 2021 after Manchester City paid Aston Villa a £100 million fee to sign Jack Grealish.

City, however, won’t entertain the idea of a bidding war. The Citizens decided not to match Arsenal’s £105 million offer following a meeting on Wednesday morning. They had an offer worth £90 million turned down on Tuesday.

Rice’s current contract at West Ham expires in 2024, but it includes a one-year extension option until 2025. The 24-year-old has scored 15 goals in 245 games for the Hammers and has been capped 41 times by England. Following the club’s Europa Conference League victory over Fiorentina, chairman David Sullivan said he was “99%” sure Rice would leave this summer.

Manchester City to leave Declan Rice as internal discussion took place today — after Arsenal record bid submitted on Tuesday. ⛔️🔵 #MCFC

City have no intention to enter into a bidding war, as always. No plans to match £105m proposal.

Over to Arsenal and West Ham now. pic.twitter.com/WW9b6SoIKU

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 28, 2023