'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former West Ham United striker Carlton Cole has backed Arsenal-target Declan Rice to join Manchester City.
According to Football.London, Arsenal will sign Rice if they match West Ham's valuation of the player regardless of Manchester City's approach. The Cityzens could make an offer for the midfielder who's valued at over £100 million.
Arsenal recently had a £90 million bid including add-ons turned down by West Ham. They're expected to submit a third bid for the England international, which could seal the deal.
In the midst of a transfer race between the two teams, Cole has backed Rice to pick Manchester City. He told Sky Sports (via @footballdaily):
"You’d go Man City, would you? That’s not even hating on Arsenal. You go to where the winners are."
Manchester City won the treble last season, which included overtaking Arsenal late in the season to win the Premier League title. The Gunners finished second and qualified for UEFA Champions League football.
They could see both Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey depart this summer, while the Cityzens are set to lose Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona on a free transfer. Rice, 24, has amassed 245 senior appearances for West Ham.
Arsenal-target Declan Rice unsure over Manchester City transfer
Declan Rice is reportedly open to moving to Arsenal this summer, a year before his contract at the London Stadium comes to an end.
According to Metro, Manchester City hold an interest in Rice but could lose out on signing him due to two reasons. First, the Englishman is hesitant to move to the Etihad due to Pep Guardiola's unresolved long-term future at the club.
Rice wants to play under Guardiola, but the Spanish manager could leave in 2025 at the end of his contract. Secondly, he's wary of the prospect of potentially being second-fiddle to Rodri.
Kalvin Phillips, who's Rice's midfield partner in Gareth Southgate's England, managed 291 Premier League minutes since moving to Manchester City last summer. Rice would, meanwhile, be a regular starter in Mikel Arteta's team straightaway.
Rice is one of Southgate's preferred players in the starting XI. Failure to secure playing time regularly at club level could change that.
