Declan Rice has 'undergone Arsenal media duties' but fans made to wait for record transfer

Declan Rice has reportedly undertaken media duties ahead of his £105million record transfer to Arsenal from West Ham, though neither side have yet confirmed the deal. The Gunners are closing in on a double transfer, with Rice and Ajax’s Jurrien Timber set for moves to the Emirates as soon as the finishing touches are put on their respective contracts.

West Ham proved tough negotiators as they attempted to get the highest fee possible for their captain, as Manchester City entered talks and matches Arsenal’s offers up to a point when Mikel Arteta’s outfit bid £105m and the Premier League champions backed down. Since then, talks resumed between the Hammers and Arsenal over the terms of the £105m deal.

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Arsenal supporters are growing frustrated at the time it is taking between deals being reportedly agreed in full and the time it takes for the club to formally announce them, after Arteta was asked by Spanish outlet Marca about Havertz and he explained why the Gunners would be interested in the German - before the signing was made official.

Arsenal’s social media activity in relation to announcing confirmed news may have hinted in the direction that Rice’s transfer would be announced, after William Saliba and Reiss Nelson signed new contracts to extend their north London stays recently.