- The Gunners have long had the West Ham captain as their No 1 transfer target
- Their opening offer was snubbed by the Hammers, who rejected payment set-up
West Ham have rejected Arsenal’s £90million second offer for Declan Rice as they continue to hold out for a minimum £100m.
The Gunners’ new deal is believed to be worth £75m in guaranteed cash with an extra £15m in add-ons.
Early indications were that Arsenal would table an offer worth a minimum £90m plus extra pushing it closer to £100m.
But their latest offer has fallen short of the £100m threshold and has been turned down. The Gunners have made Rice their No 1 target and have already seen an offer of £80m offer turned down.
Rice heads off on holiday this week after an arduous 61-game season expecting to be an Arsenal player by the end of the month.
Personal terms – well in-excess of £200,000-per-week – will be formally agreed very quickly once West Ham and Arsenal reach a middle ground.
West Ham want to trigger an auction for Rice as they seek to recoup over £100m for their captain.
But Rice wants to join Arsenal, who have already verbally indicated their intention to make a second bid.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have made an improved verbal offer worth £60m for Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz.
The new package is understood to be worth a guaranteed £55million plus an extra £5m in bonuses.
Having seen their original offer of around £50million turned down by Chelsea last week, Arsenal have continued talks with Chelsea over agreeing on a fee for the German international.
Those discussions accelerated over the weekend and Mail Sport now understands that a fresh verbal offer has been made.
Arsenal want to wrap a deal up quickly and already have a broad agreement in place over personal terms.
Havertz will be offered a long-term contract worth a minimum of £210,000-per-week.
The ball is now in Chelsea’s court over whether to agree to sell Havertz for £60m.
The Blues value the forward between £70m-£75m.
Pertinently, Havertz has already been given the go-ahead to joining Arsenal. That is, provided the two clubs can agree on a deal for his departure.
Chelsea want to raise funds as they look to press ahead with their own recruitment plans.
Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo is at the top of their list of summer transfer targets.
But Caicedo will cost at least £100m and Chelsea need to sell before being comfortable committing that level of money.
Daily Mail UK
