A new issue has hit the Declan Rice move to Arsenal and it’s having a damaging impact on West Ham United’s own transfer plans.
Departing West Ham captain Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal continues to drag on.
The British record £105m transfer – which is also a record buy for the Gunners and record sale for the Hammers – has become one of the sagas of the summer transfer window.
Many believed the deal would be announced a couple of weeks ago. Then reports stated it would be last week. Last weekend was the next alleged timescale for the unveiling by Arsenal.
It was then revealed that Rice had gone on holiday to Portugal and won’t be back until later this week, delaying the official move from West Ham to Arsenal further still.
Now a new issue hits the Rice move to Arsenal and it’s having a damaging impact on West Ham.
According to a report from Sky Sports overnight, the hold up is very much at the Arsenal end.
Because West Ham are waiting for Arsenal’s lawyers to rubber stamp the deal so it can be completed.
“West Ham are ready to sign the contracts for Declan Rice to become an Arsenal player,” Sky Sports report.
“The Hammers are waiting for Arsenal’s lawyers to approve the final wording of the deal and, once that is done, they will sign and Rice will complete his move to north London.
“Arsenal are hopeful of completing the signing of Rice before the squad flies to the USA for their pre-season tour on Sunday.”
The ridiculous length of time the move is taking is threatening to hamper West Ham’s plans for next season.
David Moyes is already losing serious ground on a number of reported key targets.
West Ham are on UEFA’s Financial Fair Play watch list and need to tread carefully with how and when they spend money.
So the east Londoners are very much waiting for the first tranche of the mammoth fee before committing to any deals themselves.
West Ham fly to Australia this week for the next part of their pre-season. It would have been the perfect trip to integrate new signings into the squad where they can get to know their new teammates.
But it looks like the Hammers will fly Down Under without any new additions.
And the season starts in just over one month.
As reported previously on Hammers News, word is Arsenal are planning to rub West Ham’s noses in it by making a real fanfare of the Rice signing.
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