Manchester City ‘make formal offer of £80m plus £10m in add-ons for West Ham star Declan Rice’

Manchester City have made a formal offer of £80million plus £10million in add-ons for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.

As reported by The Athletic, City are looking to beat Arsenal to the signing of Rice, with the Gunners having had a second bid of £75million plus £15million in add-ons rejected last week.

Arsenal are set to continue their pursuit of Rice, who is their main midfield target.

Rice has been heavily linked with Arsenal since before the transfer window opened but a deal has yet to be struck.

City, meanwhile, have lost Ilkay Gundogan, with Barcelona confirming on Monday that they have signed the German international on a two-year deal.

City manager Pep Guardiola is determined to beat Arsenal to the signing of midfielder Rice

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal saw their second offer of £75m plus £15m for Rice rejected 

City are close to the signing of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea for £25million but are still want to sign Rice. 

Rice’s vast amount of Premier League experience – he has played over 200 times in the division – makes him an attractive proposition, as does the fact that at the age of 24 he has time on his side to improve even further. 

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £65million.

Mikel Arteta’s side have also made an improved bid of £41.5million for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber.

However, they especially want to sign Rice as part of a midfield overhaul this summer, with Granit Xhaka likely to join Bayer Leverkusen while Thomas Partey could also depart.