Hammers in dark
By Sean Whetstone
West Ham have tonight have admitted they are in the dark over the completion of the Declan Rice deal.
Reports from Sky Sports have said the delay is down to Arsenal lawyers, but club insiders are at a loss to know what is happening after days of delays.
Asking a senior club source this evening about the Sky claims, the response came back to 6foot2 “The Rice contract is supposed to be with their lawyers, but WHO KNOWS what is going on?”
A £105m deal was agreed in principle over a week ago, with the player flying back from Dubai to complete a medical over the weekend.
Arsenal have agreed to pay a transfer fee of £100m in three equal payments with £33.3m up front on completion, £33.3m in 12 months’ time and the remaining £33.3m in 24 months.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice is in the Algarve with a fitness coach waiting patiently for the deal between the two clubs to be signed and sealed.
Pull the plug let’s keep him
I am shocked we have not signed at least one quality player already in the window. The only deal that should logically be held up by the rice deal is a direct replacement for Rice, that’s the only deal. The only legitimate reason for delays in signing players was the appointment of our new DOF, this could have held up our recruitment drive but he is there now and he should have given the club some serious recommendations. As a casing study if he has recommended the CB from his old club Tah, he is available for 15m then just go and sign him. This deal should not be held up by Rice and Arsenal. If we do not sign players he recommends then either Moyes or him have to go as this will not work. I know who I want gone today !!! The only other reason is that there is a potential takeover that we are not aware of but I have seen nothing concrete on that. You can buy quality cheap if you look in the right places so this theory we have no money does not run with me..
Simply tell Arsenal then that they have till the end of the day or we’re going to pull the plug on the deal. Rice won’t be happy about it but if he is a true professional then he’ll understand. To me they’re clearly looking for a loop hole to extend the time to pay over. But if it all agreed then I can’t see what is taking so long. Send it over to me, I’ll have it done by end of the day.
I smell a rat! What is so different with the Rice contract to the many others that go through without going off to Lawyers for days on end, or even at all? Are the Gooners deliberately stalling? I think we should say to them, complete now or either the price is more or the deal is off!