Man City set to make £100m Declan Rice offer that would leave Arsenal 'reeling’

Manchester City are set to bid for Declan Rice, according to reports on Thursday.

The midfielder is a target for Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as City, with the Gunners said to be in the driving seat at this stage. But The Athletic claim Pep Guardiola’s side will make an official bid for Rice after ‘exploring an approach’ for the West Ham United star earlier this month.

Meanwhile, a separate report in The Athletic claimed City would make a move for Rice if Ilkay Gundogan departs, and the German international is close to agreeing a move to Barcelona, ManchesterWorld understands.

Elsewhere, Fabrizio Romano tweeted to say Rice is ‘open to any move’ despite recent claims he would prefer to join Arsenal and remain in London. The Italian journalist added that City called West Ham last week and asked to be kept informed on the situation.

City are supposedly willing to spend up to £100m on the transfer, which would equal the club-record fee paid for Jack Grealish two years ago. The Mirror report the treble-winners would offer Rice a deal of £200,000 a week to make the switch to the Etihad, and add that City’s approach could leave Arsenal ‘reeling’ as they felt they had a ‘clear run’ at the England international.

Rice, who guided the Hammers to European glory on what looks set to be his final appearance in claret and blue, would offer Guardiola a real alternative to Rodri at the base of midfield, with Kalvin Phillips evidently not deemed up to scratch yet. The City boss said in February that ‘Rodri cannot play all the games’, yet the Spaniard missed just five of the team’s 61 matches in 2022/23.

City are also close to completing a deal for Mateo Kovacic, ManchesterWorld understands. Personal terms have been in place for weeks with the Chelsea midfielder, and reports on Wednesday claimed the two clubs have now agreed a price for the Croatian.