It’s hardly been the best kept secret in the Premier League this summer, but the saga of Declan Rice’s move from West Ham United to Arsenal has now reached its natural conclusion.
The Gunners have signed the England midfielder for a club record fee of £105m, which is also a new record transfer between two English clubs, beating the £100m Manchester City paid to take Jack Grealish from Aston Villa.
There’s something about these Claret and Blue clubs producing megastars…watch out for Burnley next!
The deal blows the £72m Arsenal paid Lille for Nicolas Pepe out of the water and it makes Mikel Arteta’s team an even better prospect to challenge Manchester City for the 2023/24 title. The signing comes on the back of Arsenal’s capture of Chelsea striker Kai Havertz and there is little doubt that Rice will have a glittering career at the Emirates where he has signed a long term contract.
Arsenal beat off competition from Manchester City for Rice’s signature. The Sky Blues offered £90m for the player before pulling out of the race last week; and he will fit straight into a defensive midfield role at Arsenal, which he performed to a brilliant standard at Euro 2021 and the 2022 World Cup where he was one of England’s first names on the team-sheet. He has been capped 43 times by the Three Lions and has scored 15 goals in 245 games for the Hammers scored…and Rice is till only 24 year old. Much like England team-mate Mason Mount, who has made the move from Chelsea to Manchester United, Rice is ready for a new challenge.
At 6ft 1in the now ex-Hammer is known for his tackling, speed and stamina and his ability to make surging runs deep into opposition territory; and he is the powerful box to box midfielder the Gunners have been seeking for almost two decades since the great Patrick Vieira left Arsenal for Juventus in 2005. The Premier League 2023 betting odds here at SBOTOP have installed Arsenal as second favourites, behind Manchester City, to win the title; and that is in recognition of how Arteta has improved the Gunners, and this latest addition emphasises the point nicely.
The UK media has reported, though, that this signing has moved Arsenal’s current defensive midfielder, Thomas Partey, closer to a move to Saudi Arabia.
Maguire to Tottenham?
Rumours are circulating around Manchester and North London that Manchester United’s out of favour centre back Harry Maguire is being made available by Old Trafford boss Erik Ten Hag. And that news has attracted the interest of new Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou who is looking to strengthen his options in defence.
Maguire slipped down the pecking order at United following a run of inconsistency and the superb form of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. Ten Hag is now reported to be ready to offload the £200k a week England man and both Tottenham and newly monied West Ham are said to be interested.
The Red Devils, who bought Maguire from Leicester City for £80m back in 2019 are hoping to recoup £35m and that could make good business sense for Tottenham. In the meantime former Manchester United star Jonny Evans has been seen at the club’s training ground, working with the Manchester United squad to boost his fitness. The 35 year old ex Leicester City skipper has been helping the younger defenders in training, and he’s received a warm welcome at Carrington by players and staff alike.
Burnley set to sign England U21 keeper
In other Premier League 2023 news breaking on Sunday Vincent Kompany’s Burnley are set to smash their transfer record with the £19m signing of England U21 goalkeeper James Trafford. It is the second time the Burnley boss has called in at his old club for a keeper, signing Aro Muric from Manchester City last season.
Trafford is ready to undergo his medical at Turf Moor after the two clubs agreed a deal which will see Burnley pay an initial £15m to Manchester City with add-ons taking it to £19m. Kompany watched Trafford play for Bolton Wanderers against Barnsley in their League 1 play-off semi-final when the keeper was on loan with the Trotters and he sees the 20 year old as the ideal player to challenge Muric for the Number One spot. At the U21 Euros, Trafford kept six clean sheets and saved a penalty in the final as England beat Spain to lift the trophy.
He also kept 26 clean sheets in 52 games for Bolton last season and now Trafford looks set to join the youthful and exciting Burnley on their return to the Premier League.
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