Manchester City pull out of race with Arsenal to sign £105 million Declan Rice

Arsenal have been left by Manchester City in the race to sign West Ham United captain Declan Rice, it has been confirmed.

The Premier League champions have exited the pursuit of the England international after making just one bid for the 24-year-old, in comparison to Arsenal’s three proposals for their number one transfer target this summer.

In the last few days, Manchester City proposed a package of £90 million for the West Ham midfielder, with £80 million coming as a guaranteed fee, and a further £10 million in performance and success-related add-ons.

The proposal was relatively swiftly rejected by London Stadium transfer bosses, before Arsenal responded with a staggering £105 million offer for the England star, in a deal that is expected to be accepted once a payment structure has been agreed upon.

In the most significant development yet concerning Manchester City, and a development that marks the end of their pursuit of Declan Rice, it has been confirmed that Etihad Stadium officials will be exiting the race for the midfielder.

That is according to various sources including Jack Gaughan of the Mail, while Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News also states that Manchester City will not be matching Arsenal’s mammoth third bid.

Declan Rice becomes the latest in a long list of Manchester City transfer targets that the Etihad club have pulled away from due to a difference in valuations.

Last summer, City refused to budge on their valuation of Brighton & Hove Albion left-back Marc Cucurella, as they stood firm on their £40 million fee for the Spaniard, before the south coast club sold to Chelsea for a sum in excess of £60 million.

Other examples in recent transfer windows include Alexis Sanchez, Fred, Harry Maguire, Jorginho, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Virgil Van Dijk.

It remains unknown as to what Manchester City’s next steps will be in the ongoing summer transfer window, with the club still understood to be keen on signing an additional central midfielder following the capture of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea.

Phil Foden is expected to contribute more in central midfield next season, while James McAtee is set to make a return to the club following a successful loan spell with the recently-promoted Premier League side Sheffield United.

City are continuing in negotiations over RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol, with the Bundesliga side looking for a transfer fee around the €100 million mark, while the Premier League side would ideally like to meet in and around €85 million.

Personal terms between Manchester City and the Croatia international defender have already been agreed, as uncertainty surrounding the future of Aymeric Laporte continues into the third week of the summer transfer window.