West Ham turn their gaze towards an old Arsenal face, Matteo Guendouzi, as a potential replacement in the midfield for Declan Rice who is hopefully moving to Arsenal but could go to City after they made a bid on Monday.
- West Ham are considering Matteo Guendouzi, ex-Arsenal player, as a potential replacement for Declan Rice.
- Rice’s move to Arsenal seemed to inevitable but Man City have now made an official bid.
- Arsenal’s third bid for Rice is still said to be ‘imminent’
With Declan Rice hopefully Arsenal-bound, West Ham are reportedly turning their attention to former Gunner Matteo Guendouzi as a potential replacement in the heart of midfield.
However, while it looked for so long like Arsenal would have a clear run at Rice, Manchester City have now lodged an official bid for the player.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, “the Premier League champions have now made a formal offer of an initial £80million with an extra £10m in add-ons in hope of beating Arsenal to his signature this summer.”
Arsenal’s last bid was £75m + £15m in add-ons.
One key difference between the offers is believed to be that City have offered to pay over two years while Arsenal have suggested five.
Rice is believed to favour a move to Arsenal but it was also reported that Man City would not make an offer unless they got confirmation of interest from Rice.
As for Guendouzi, currently showcasing his skills at Marseille, he has shone during his two full seasons with Les Phocéens, making him an attractive proposition for the Hammers.
A recent report, also from The Athletic, suggested that West Ham had shortlisted Guendouzi as a potential replacement for Rice.
An offer from the Hammers is anticipated once Rice’s move is finalised.
This looming transfer could initiate a chain of movements, with Marseille eyeing Atlético Madrid‘s Geoffrey Kondogbia as a midfield reinforcement to replace Guendouzi.
Rice’s preference to reportedly to stay in London, primarily due to his family and admiration for Mikel Arteta’s style of football, seems to give Arsenal an edge in the escalating transfer saga.
As The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg reported, Arsenal could acquire Rice for a fee that might exceed £100m and City’s involvement is only going to drive the price up, something West Ham have obviously been keen to see happen.
Despite two bids being turned down, Arsenal remain undeterred in their pursuit of Rice.
Mikel Arteta reportedly views Rice as a future Arsenal captain, with a third bid closer to West Ham’s demands currently in preparation.
Arsenal are still considered the frontrunner in this race, but City’s official involvement is frustrating.
Manchester United’s proposal of £40m plus Harry Maguire and Anthony Elanga adds an annoying twist to the unfolding drama but that seems to have been rejected.
As Arsenal readies another bid, West Ham continue to assess their options, with Guendouzi in their sights as an interesting replacement for their star midfielder.
The coming weeks promise more twists and turns in this high-stakes transfer saga.
Geoffrey Kondogbia’s move to Marseille imminent
- Geoffrey Kondogbia from Atletico Madrid is on the brink of joining Marseille.
- Kondogbia’s move hints at Matteo Guendouzi’s Premier League return.
Geoffrey Kondogbia, the Atletico Madrid midfielder, is reported to be in advanced talks with Marseille. The footballer, who only has a year left on his contract with the La Liga club, is keen to make the move.
Under their new manager Marcelino, Marseille have been making strides in the transfer market. Kondogbia, the former France international, appears to be a priority signing for Marcelino’s newly managed side.
The negotiations between Marseille and Atletico Madrid over a transfer fee, which is expected to be around €7m, are ongoing. Reports suggest that these negotiations are nearing completion, with only minor details remaining to be finalised.