---
title: "Arsenal have made contact about signing Declan Rice"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-gunners-declan-rice-transfer-news-rumours/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dominic Lund"
section: "Arsenal News"
published: "2023-02-07T12:16:16Z"
modified: "2023-02-07T12:16:16Z"
---

# Arsenal have made contact about signing Declan Rice

**[Arsenal](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fc-news/) have made ‘first contact’ about signing West Ham United midfielder [Declan Rice](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/declan-rice/) and he ‘wants to join’, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.**

### The Lowdown: Arsenal targeting Rice

Fabrizio Romano has recently [told](https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/02/06/declan-rice-transfer-to-cost-arsenal-or-chelsea-90-100m/) CaughtOffside that Arsenal ‘have always been interested ‘in signing Rice, but they could face competition from Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City for his signature, and a deal may cost around £90m to £100m.

One potential advantage that the Gunners have in the transfer race is the fact that the 24-year-old is [enticed](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/21/declan-rice-favouring-move-to-arsenal-over-chelsea-as-west-ham-exit-nears) by the prospect of playing under Mikel Arteta, with the manager already drawing up plans for where he would fit into the team.

### The Latest: Galetti’s comments

Speaking to [GIVEMESPORT](https://www.givemesport.com/88112354-arsenal-transfer-news-arteta-directly-involved-new-talks-100m-star-emirates), Galetti offered an update on the progress Arsenal have made towards signing the midfielder, saying: *“Declan Rice, for sure, remains a priority for Arsenal in the summer.*

*“There are some updates because the Gunners have the West Ham midfielder in their sights and first contact to collect preliminary information already happened.*

*“During January, there were new contacts in which Arteta was directly involved. No personal terms have been under discussion with the entourage of Declan Rice, but Arsenal understood that the player wants to join them.”*

### The Verdict: Make it happen

[Hailed](https://twitter.com/Toby_Cudworth/status/1582830690890305536?s=20&t=DxF9e55_l9WO7kIBpEu7HQ) as ‘sensational’ by sections of the media, the Englishman is enjoying yet another very good season in the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/), ranked by SofaScore as the Hammers’ best-performing player, with an average match rating of [7.26](https://www.sofascore.com/team/football/west-ham-united/37).

The West Ham captain has recorded an average pass completion percentage of [89.6%](https://fbref.com/en/players/1c7012b8/Declan-Rice) per 90 in the past year, a figure that places him in the 94th percentile compared to other midfielders, while he is also exceptional at driving the ball forward, ranked in the 88th percentile for progressive carries.

While a transfer fee of £100m is a lot, Rice has proven himself over a number of years in the Premier League, making a total of [198](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/357662) appearances in the competition, and Arsenal should do everything they can to win the race for him in the summer.