Arsenal and West Ham still discussing the structure of £105m deal for England midfielder

West Ham and Arsenal are yet to finalize a deal for midfielder Declan Rice; a fee of £105m has been agreed in principle but there is still work to do before the clubs find a resolution over the payment structure

No deal has been agreed yet to take Declan Rice from West Ham to Arsenal as talks continue over the payment structure of the transfer.

The overall fee – worth £105m – is not an issue with one source claiming it has been agreed in principle.

While there is still a willingness from all parties to get it done, there is still work to do before the clubs find a resolution.

Rice is now free to discuss personal terms and have his medical with Arsenal.

As Arsenal agree a £105m deal for Declan Rice, we take a look at his best Premier League moments for West Ham

The transfer breaks down as a £100m initial fee plus £5m in performance-related add-ons.

Arsenal have already had two club-record bids rejected by the Irons – a £90m bid comprising a £75m fee and £15m in add-ons and an opening offer thought to be worth £80m plus add-ons.

The offer smashes Arsenal’s transfer record – the £72m they paid Lille for Nicolas Pepe in 2019.

Rice has spent his entire professional career with West Ham and led the club to the Europa Conference League title as his last act.

Mikel Arteta, who has mostly relied on Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard as his midfielders last season, has been keen to strengthen in that area of the field. He looks to have got his No 1 target.

‘All parties are working towards a compromise’

The Athletic’s David Ornstein:

“I don’t think Arsenal will let this one go now.

“All parties are working towards a compromise so Arsenal need to get that structure of payments in place having had a fee accepted.

“I suspect they will do what they need to do and this deal should get wrapped up in due course.

“It might not be imminently, but I imagine in the next days or week Arsenal will get the man who is absolutely central to Arsenal’s and Mikel Arteta’s project.”

Should Arsenal feel nervy about finalising Rice deal?

The Guardian’s Jonathan Liew on Sky Sports News:

“Perhaps, but a lot less nervy than they were a week ago when it looked like they were getting in a dog fight with Man City for Rice.

“The fact City have now dropped out, that Rice has made it clear that he wants to move to Arsenal and that Mikel Arteta has laid out how he wants to use Rice, I think that will all help grease the wheel a little bit.

“That will help move this transfer on.

“It feels like it’s been one of those sagas that has been going on for weeks, if not months, but if the finances are in order, then I don’t really see any obstacles as to why this deal wouldn’t take place.”