Declan Rice's captaincy was the subject of a £90 million bid rejection from Treble winners Manchester City. Thought to comprise a first payment of £80 million, City's offer falls short of the £100 million the Hammers are seeking. An additional offer from Arsenal for the 24-year-old England midfielder is anticipated.
Last week, West Ham rejected the Gunners' second offer of an initial £75 million split into four instalments with a further £15 million in add-ons. Although there is a one-year extension option available through the summer of 2025, Rice's contract with the Hammers expires in 2024.
Following West Ham's triumph over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League earlier this month, club president David Sullivan predicted Rice would depart the club this summer with "99%" certainty. The departure of Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona has caused City manager Pep Guardiola to be eager to improve his midfield options, and Rice is seen as the ideal candidate. They have already lined up Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic in a £25 million deal.