West Ham United's Declan Rice celebrates scoring their third goal
Manchester City are willing to push Arsenal all the way in the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, according to a new report.
The Lowdown: Man City eyeing a new midfielder
Pep Guardiola has made it clear that he wants to sign a new midfielder in the summer transfer window, with it recently emerging that Alexis Mac Allister is being targeted in a deal which could cost more than £70m.
The Sky Blues have also been linked with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, although it may be difficult to land the 19-year-old, given that Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid are also interested.
The Latest: Man City will push to sign Rice
According to Football Insider, Man City are planning to push Premier League title rivals Arsenal all the way in the transfer race for Rice over the summer.
The likes of Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in the England midfielder, who could cost as much as £80m, although Champions League qualification could be crucial in this pursuit.
That puts City in a very strong position, with them looking like certainties to qualify for the tournament again next season, whereas that seems a tall order for the Merseysiders and west Londoners.
The Verdict: Get it done?
West Ham manager David Moyes has previously stated that £100m would be considered a ‘cheap’ amount for his club’s captain, so the potential availability of Rice for £80m gives City all the more reason to pursue a deal.
Hailed as ‘incredible‘ by journalist Matt Law in the past, the 24-year-old ranks in the top 11% compared to other midfielders in Europe’s five main leagues for numerous key metrics, including his pass completion rate, progressive carries and interceptions.
Rice’s long-range shooting was also on display in the Irons’ 4-0 victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, netting his team’s third goal with a fantastic strike from outside the penalty box, achieving an 8.2 Sofascore rating for his efforts.
Also, the 24-year-old is likely to be just about to enter his prime footballing years, and he would appear be an excellent prospective addition to Guardiola’s side.
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