Manchester City have joined the race to sign Arsenal’s top summer transfer target Declan Rice. The Citizens are reportedly preparing a bid for the player after West Ham rejected Arsenal’s opening offer of £80million.
Given City’s status as England’s top team many Gooners will be understandably nervous about the approach, especially off the back of their historic treble-winning campaign. Exactly how this story will progress is presently unclear but reports suggest that Arsenal remain in the driving seat when it comes to the deal.
However, if City do end up pipping Arsenal in the race for Rice then there are plenty of options in the market including Ilkay Gundogan, whose contract with the Sky Blues is set to expire at the end of June.
City are keen to re-sign their skipper and have offered him a 12-month extension but the Germany international is still yet to make his final decision on his future. Pep Guardiola remains hopeful that he can keep hold of Gundogan and sees him as part of his long-term plans.
“I said about the contract, the club is involved and knows my opinion. They are above me, we take the decision together, good and bad,” he said.
“It’s not necessary if he scored two incredible goals, how good he played today, reading the spaces, he has everything – incredible run in the final third, how intelligent he is. It’s not necessary to score two goals to know exactly how I like this player and enjoying working with him and how I’d like to work with him in the future.”
