West Ham target ex-Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi as Declan Rice replacement
Posted by  badge Boss on May 08, 2023 - 05:15PM
Matteo Guendouzi is on West Ham’s radar (AFP via Getty)

are targeting former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi as a replacement for this summer, according to reports.

Rice has made it clear that he is keen to join a club in order to further his career, while West Ham are understood to be willing to sell their captain at the end of the season and are holding out for a £100 million transfer fee.

Several clubs are interested in a deal for Rice, including Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.

According to , West Ham are already lining up potential replacements for the England international and on their shortlist is ex-Arsenal midfielder Guendouzi.

The 24-year-old is currently in his second season with Marseille after his loan move from Arsenal was made permanent last summer for £9 million.

Guendouzi, , has established himself as a key figure in Marseille’s midfield and still has two years remaining on his contract with the French club.

Declan Rice is set to leave West Ham this summer (Getty)

Arsenal, meanwhile, are looking to sign two midfielders this summer and are expected to push again for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo alongside a move for Rice.

The Gunners, who currently sit second in the Premier League table behind Manchester City, .

A move for Rice is also likely to be difficult for Arsenal, given the level of competition they are up against with several other Premier League rivals in the running.

‘One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League,’ Rice said about his future in December. ‘For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that.

‘I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies.

‘You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.’

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