Transfer: Arteta makes huge promise to Rice as Man City enter race to sign midfielder

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, is trying to lure West Ham’s Declan Rice to the Emirates Stadium with the promise of handing him the Gunners’ captain armband.

The Spaniard sees the England international as his future captain.

Manchester United and Manchester City are now making the player’s move to Arsenal very difficult by submitting offers for the highly rated midfielder. 

City want to replace departing Ilkay Gundogan with Rice to move to Barcelona as a free agent.

The Gunners have already seen two offers turned down by West Ham, the most recent worth a total £90million. The bid was worth a guaranteed £75million plus an extra £15m in performance-related add ons.

West Ham are demanding a minimum £100million for Rice, while they also prefer the guaranteed part of the fee be paid in two instalments by the end of 2025.

Arsenal remain ahead in the race to sign the 24-year-old midfielder and according to Mail Sport, Arteta believes Rice will one day become captain of Arsenal if he signs.

There is however no immediate plan to give Rice the armband with Martin Odegaard currently the skipper of the team.