Declan Rice

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Hi Tomlie, just to clarify, is your info that he would choose City over Arsenal even if both clubs were to get bids accepted, (not that I think we'll get to the stage of getting a bid accepted)?

My opinion he would choose City over Arsenal if the bid is acceptable.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

On top of it, it doesn't get mentioned enough, but don't we have a LOT of money to spend from previous transfer windows from our sales? Does anyone know the figures? Has to be 100m+.

All I know is that if you win big boy trophies, you get big boy prizes.

And we've been doing that a long time now.

 

[richards30]

There's nothing in it for Rice to lie to us if his only choice remains Arsenal.

It pushes the fee up for Arsenal and also impacts negatively the wages he would receive from them.

Sullivan is the fly in the ointment, he is the one briefing our interest and bid timelines.

He's doing his job for his Club, but we can't control the messaging because of it.

100% in for him though mate?

 

[Dribble]

The reason why Rice isn't currently in an Arsenal shirt is because they've wasted time haggling for their number one priority whilst trying to throw big money at Chelsea for Kai fucking Havertz.

They have and will spend shit loads. We just spend it better and with the success to back it up.

Havertz was used as a Centre Forward at Chelsea, but was a No 8 when he excelled at Leverkusen. Arteta wants him as a No 8/No 10 which would leave them relying on Jesus & Nketia for the CF goals.

They've got goals all through the team, so it's a good purchase, BUT £65m is a chunk to pay! I reckon he's worth £40m - £45m imo...

 

[JDV]

A lot of journalist write about “Peps only got two years left”…. Arteta then? It’s a non-argument. I don’t think players look at that length, maybe if it’s one year.

And 2 years of Pep is worth a lifetime

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Could it be a case similair to Bellingham though? Where he says yes to multiple clubs and then chooses from the offers left on the table

Nope. Be Arsenal or us. Has already rejected Bayern.

Just a reminder to people that Rice turned his back on the Republic of Ireland to play for England, despite the backlash, because he said he wanted to win things and play in major tournaments.

 

[LesBleuMiserable]

Havertz was used as a Centre Forward at Chelsea, but was a No 8 when he excelled at Leverkusen. Arteta wants him as a No 8/No 10 which would leave them relying on Jesus & Nketia for the CF goals.

They've got goals all through the team, so it's a good purchase, BUT £65m is a chunk to pay! I reckon he's worth £40m - £45m imo...

They will probably recoup quite a bit of that with Emile Rowe sale to Villa.

 

[skillman]

Nope. Be Arsenal or us. Has already rejected Bayern.

Just a reminder to people that Rice turned his back on the Republic of Ireland to play for England, despite the backlash, because he said he wanted to win things and play in major tournaments.

Interestingly I don’t think there’d be a backlash if he chose us over Arsenal. How the tide has changed!

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

That ex West Ham employee who is about as reliable as you can get when it comes to West Ham said no bid as of yet but West Ham expecting one. Also @mattyb said last night we aren’t close to this signing.

I suspect West Ham are using us to drive the price up. Something just doesn’t feel right with this transfer.

At 9am yesterday, Sullivan briefed off record that City were lodging a bid before lunchtime.

He's now keeping quiet.

 

[FantasyIreland]

At 9am yesterday, Sullivan briefed off record that City were lodging a bid before lunchtime.

He's now keeping quiet.

Oi Sully....shut it!

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Havertz was used as a Centre Forward at Chelsea, but was a No 8 when he excelled at Leverkusen. Arteta wants him as a No 8/No 10 which would leave them relying on Jesus & Nketia for the CF goals.

They've got goals all through the team, so it's a good purchase, BUT £65m is a chunk to pay! I reckon he's worth £40m -£45m imo...

I do think he'd be a good signing but they've been in talks with West Ham since January or February. My guess is Arsenal thought they'd have a free run and could pay less than West Ham want.

They've had no such problem with offering big money for Havertz. To me, that looks like they've fucked up their priorities and they've only got themselves to blame for if they don't get Rice.

 

[Ethan23]

Fear for Phillips if this move goes through.

i'm sure he'll survive pal

 

[richards30]

Oi Sully....shut it!

yeah, not going to go down too well with our board that! lol

 

[Tb1981]

At 9am yesterday, Sullivan briefed off record that City were lodging a bid before lunchtime.

He's now keeping quiet.

Go on
Explain what this means to a simpleton!

 

[Tugay One Cup]

He's now keeping quiet.

Sullivan? Quiet? Someone should probably check on him.

He's either popped his clogs or a bottle of champagne.

 

[skillman]

At 9am yesterday, Sullivan briefed off record that City were lodging a bid before lunchtime.

He's now keeping quiet.

Could it be that got our backs up and we didn’t bid I wonder…

 

[DenisLawBackHeel74]

Just as much I want him to come and join our English contingent I want to piss arsenal fans off. They get on my nerves tbh

To be honest I think they’re already pissed off.

Not to put too fine a point on it but imo city are ‘the’ PL apex predator and we are currently sat at the dinning table……soon we will feast, and only when we are sated, can the other, lesser beasts, devour the scraps……

 

[richards30]

Could it be that got our backs up and we didn’t bid I wonder…

i imagine he`s been told to shut the fuck up and stop the public leaking

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Go on
Explain what this means to a simpleton!

I interpreted it as City not being best pleased that he can’t shut the fuck up and then telling him to shut the fuck up. But I could be wrong.

 

[Vester]

A lot of journalist write about “Peps only got two years left”…. Arteta then? It’s a non-argument. I don’t think players look at that length, maybe if it’s one year.

Doesn't Artetas contract expire at the same time as Peps, for all we know Pep could extend his stay here longer than these two years remaining? Seems like all journalists and fans of other clubs assume (or pray) Pep will leave as soon as he has the opportunity every time. First it was said he was only gonna be here 3 years, then he would definitely leave when his contract expired (but he extended again), headlines about that Pep would leave immediately followed after the charges, instead the opposite happened and Pep came out and said there is no chance of him leaving. Everyone knows they have no chance of competing with City as long as Pep is here so they try to convince themselves that "any day know" he will leave.

EDIT: And just look at the state of Barcelona & Bayern the years following Pep left, both won the league convincingly and we can still to this day see how their style of play is influenced by Pep. No record at all of teams falling apart once Pep leaves, quite the opposite actually. Not to mention that the day Pep eventually leaves we will not exactly replace him with Sean Dyche, he will obviously be replaced with an elite level manager thats well respected in the football world.