Declan Rice

[Complex Simplicity]

Happy that, once again, we are not overpaying for players.

Bang on. We will bring someone in who's better than Rice for half the price.

 

[Kamaro011]

We really have to rely on Pep Guardiola to do magic to work on squad he have regardless whether our transfer target is achieve or not.

This kind of dependence on him is concerning tbh, what if Pep is leaving and his next successor didn't have the same capability like he have to able to work with any cards on his hand?

It's not looking good the life after Pep Guardiola in City. One of the reason why we always work and still compete each season regardless the player we have is because him.

 

[SamBlue]

Arsenal no excuse now that have to win the title

Really! That's some serious over-hyping or Rice mate!

 

[bert38]

Making a bid that you know will be rejected while competing against a club that have identified him as their number 1 target, is pointless. Our bid was only going to make Arsenal bid more - because it wasn't really that different. More than happy for the club not to move from their valuations and walk away - don't see the point in bidding when it's not going to be accepted.

that's a fair point-but the club have always insisted on a valuation for a player and, as far as we know, stick to it.

 

[Scottyboi]

Thank god, never a 105 million player. Arsenal are mugs.

 

[Gobshiight]

There probably isn't one, like with Cucurella before. They may just have had Bellingham and Rice on the list.

Wasn't Akanji kind of his alternative? Bringing in an extra centre back in the knowledge that Aké could instead play on the left

Perhaps there'll be a similarly pragmatic solution

 

[Roachy]

Excited to see who we go for now. Delighted we pushed the Arse to waste an extra £20m.

And imagine next season that whoever we sign outperforms Rice at Arsenal.

 

[bluemystery]

I just think a Club who's won the treble, smashed Madrid and Bayern and are the Kings of Europe should be aiming for the World's Best, not Declan Rice.

Declan Rice isn't getting in this team, just like Kalvin Phillips. If we are spending 100m plus on a player it has to be someone who's going to walk in this side and play nearly every game like Haaland. Don't see the point spending 100m on a player who's more likely going to be a rotational player.

Agree, signing gvardiol (if deal goes through) is a real 'we are here' moment

 

[NJMCFC184]

Really! That's some serious over-hyping or Rice mate!

Not just Rice , look at money they've spent past few years

 

[Mfhvc]

Would of loved to have Rice in the team, but I trust the clubs valuation of the player. They very rarely steer us wrong, does seem odd they entered the race when it seemed obvious to me from the start the price was always going to be 100 million.

 

[HelloCity]

I never saw Rice as being an 8 in our team. I don't think he's technically good enough.

I do think he would have been great playing alongside Rodri in the position Stones was playing last season. I'd have loved to have seen this tbh.

If we're wanting an 8 you could argue that Maddison is actually the better player in that role.

 

[Complex Simplicity]

Arsenal no excuse now that have to win the title

They're not in the same league as us. They'll be nowhere near us next season.

 

[onceabluealways]

Lots of people writing Philips off, just like they did with Jack after his first season. Let’s see what he gives this season. Bernado staying would be the massive bonus, fingers crossed

 

[FatedBlue77]

Wonder how pep must feel right now. Lost out on top target bellingham to madrid, strongly wanted gundo to stay which would've negated the need for rice and not prompted us to come into the bidding race but got overriden by the board. And now lost out on rice which was his bellingham alternative to Arsenal.

 

[Cityinmud]

Walk away??! Why bid over 100 mil for rice! We have won the treble and will not have the same pressure next season.
We can get other midfielder without spending this kind of money .
I would rather we invest in wingers, fullbacks and a midfielder rathan than one overpriced midfielder!

Great decision. Walking away. Definitely overpriced. Harry Maguire all over again

 

[PabZabb]

Can’t help but feel a little disappointed but have absolute faith we’ll get our business done properly elsewhere - we always do, and this is yet another example of where we’ve walked away from a transfer where we’re not prepared to match what other Premiership clubs are willing to pay - which goes against the constant narrative that we’ve got unlimited resources and blow everyone else out of the water.

 

[SWPISHOME]

I said on here a few days ago "If we get Declan Rice so be it, If not we move on".

We've been incredible in the transfer market over the last 10 years plus but especially since Pep has arrived.

We have a valuation on a player and that's it, We won't be taken for mugs. £105 million for Declan Rice, Ludicrous.

 

[supersonicblue]

True, but Rice was their no1 target and our bid wasn't likely to be accepted. So it was a weird thing to do. I'm not massively arsed, but it's just a bit pointless.

No issue with us driving up the price for a rival. Our third choices usually turn out to be decent.

 

[Skrastins]

Good to hear, there are better targets out there

 

[manimanc]

Maybe Arsenal do their medicals in Manchester now.