Arsenal at risk of failing with Declan Rice swoop due to Mykhaylo Mudryk

Arsenal’s move for Declan Rice may have hit a stumbling block.

Arsenal are said to be very conscious of what they are willing to spend on Declan Rice. The Gunners are aiming to wrap up a deal for under £100million with sporting director Edu increasingly wary of another Mykhaylo Mudryk situation unfolding.

Arsenal were in hot pursuit of Mudryk in January and bid well above the player’s valuation to secure his services. In the end, they had their move hijacked at the last minute by Chelsea after Arsenal refused to get involved in a bidding war with the West Londoners.

The decision so far appears to be the correct one given how Mudryk has struggled during his opening spell in England and, according to Football.London, Arsenal are prepared to put their foot down again when it comes to the Rice deal.

A fee between £90m and £100m is expected to be the amount they are willing to fork out for the player, however, West Ham value him at no less than nine figures.

If he leaves, Hammers boss David Moyes expects that Rice will command a British record transfer fee greater than the £100m Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish back in 2021. “Declan is going to be a top player and undoubtedly he’ll be a British transfer record if he ever leaves West Ham, and more.” said Moyes in February.

“I hope it’s not. I hope he sees his time here [at West Ham],” he added. “Look, there’s a lot of talk about it and it’s just important when you see what’s going about for the prices. I think Declan will be blowing that out of the water, that’s for sure, when it comes around.”

The Guardian reports that certain add-ons to the deal may push it over the £100m mark with West Ham looking to generate as much money as possible from the sale. Interest from the likes of Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester United is said to be cooling with it looking increasingly likely that Rice will be on his way to the Emirates.

But Arsenal are expected to do everything they can to ensure they get the best possible deal as well. Extra add-ons and clauses may be the only way to appease both sides.