Arsenal Transfers: Is it time to walk away from Declan Rice deal?

This was the banker. This was the one that couldn’t fail.

When the news broke late on Wednesday night that Arsenal had submitted a bid in excess of £100m for priority target Declan Rice, Gooners across the globe rejoiced. The Gunners’ third proposal, believed to total £105m, had finally matched West Ham’s reported valuation.

https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1673813509279305730

This was it. The job was done. Schedule the medical, Declan Rice is a Gooner!

Or so we thought…

Is it time to walk away from Declan Rice deal?

Swiftly after that gorgeous man Ornstein exclusively reported the news of Arsenal’s record-breaking proposal, The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg wrote that West Ham had rejected the offer due to payment structure issues.

Excitement: sapped.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. While Manchester City are expected to bid a second time for Rice, perhaps on Wednesday, many believe Arsenal are still in the driver’s seat. The club remains in dialogue with West Ham, and the Gunners are set to negotiate the payment structure of the deal. Essentially, the Hammers want more money in a shorter period of time (all in 18 months, reportedly), while Arsenal, understandably, want to spread the payment out across several years and pay in multiple instalments.

A deal is certainly there to be done, but Arsenal shouldn’t go further than what they have for Rice. £105m is a mammoth fee for the West Ham skipper, as good as he is, and if the East London club continue to drag out negotiations over a seemingly minor issue, the Gunners would be wise to walk away and explore alternative options.

Missing out on Rice would be a huge blow given the effort the club has put in, and not a soul should blame Edu Gaspar if he ends up at Manchester City. While some were frustrated by the club’s opening two offers, those leading negotiations are doing all they can to ensure Rice is strutting his stuff in red and white at the start of 2023/24.

The next 24 hours will be crucial in determining where Rice’s future lies, and there’s still optimism that Arsenal will get the job done. However, the club, as they almost always have in the past couple of years, must know their limitations and walk away should West Ham continue to dig their heels in.