London or medals Declan?

The Declan Rice for Arsenal saga is a strange scenario because  it almost feels as if a geographical location has become as important to him as winning medals.

Dec has always said that’s his main priority in life….not money but winning things yet he seems from all we hear and read to be focused on remaining in the south east .

It will be very interesting indeed to see what happens should – as many expect – Manchester City come in for him because in all honesty that is the only British club that can guarantee him the medals he so desperately wants.

He already has one and that came from his time with us and he would probably have more chance of picking up another  from the Europa League next season than he would with Arsenal in the Champions Cup. It would be a totally different  matter were we talking Manchester City.

We have been seeing a story or more a day on what Arsenal will do next and that – as suggested here before – smacks of some sort of publicity campaign being conducted which – if it is the case – would be the first time I have known it to happen in over 50 years  as a journo in this game.

Should City come in and make an offer which is acceptable to the club I will be fascinated to see Team Rice’s reaction and were he to choose Arsenal – assuming the club accepted a bid from them  – that would seem suggest he wants London and the south east rather than medals.

And that would be a very odd decision indeed from where I am sitting!