The Gunners are reportedly prepared to meet the Hammers’ demands of £100million for the England midfielder (Daily Mail, 20 June) after having two bids rejected.
However, the outspoken Jordan warned Arsenal they are dealing with a tricky customer in Sullivan.
west ham
He said on talkSPORT: “At this moment in time what you’ve got is Arsenal sitting in an auction room and going ‘oh I’ll bid’, that’s not big enough, ‘oh I’ll bid again’. That’s not how it works. When you’re doing a deal and get some competitive tension in the room and you believe that other people are going to bid against you then you react to the circumstances.
“If Arsenal want to steal a march, they rock straight through the door and go ‘I’ll give you a hundred million quid, done, on the nail, we’ve done the deal’.
“But you’ve also got to recognise who you’re dealing with and I’ve dealt with Sullivan and if Sullivan tells me it’s 9 o’clock in the morning I check my watch. So with that, you’ve got to price in who you’re dealing with, I think you have to price in there is a perception this is a commodity other people want to have.
“I don’t think he’s worth a hundred million quid, but he’s worth a hundred million quid if someone’s prepared to pay that for him.
“And if you’re Arsenal at this moment in time, if you’re first out of the gate and you’re establishing your position, do you believe with the nature of a deal that it is perceived a variety of clubs are interested – unless you do precisely what West Ham do, if you say to David Sullivan tell me exactly what you want and if we meet that expectation will you now subsequently do that deal? And I promise you now it will be like nailing a jelly to the wall.”
It is difficult to disagree with Simon Jordan on this particular topic.
Regardless of whether you think Declan Rice is worth £100million or not, the fact is West Ham have set their price and there are no shortage of suitors for his services.
So, Arsenal have a choice. Keep going back with incremental bids hoping to save a few quid here or there…or pay the price that has been set.
If the Gunners stall or show even the slightest hint of hesitancy then they will miss their target. Rumours are already circling that Manchester United have re-entered the race.
Arsenal need a transfer window of intent having failed to keep pace in the Premier League title race last season, eventually losing out to Manchester City, and failing to land Rice having been favourites for so long would be a big failure in this window.
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